An English intonation reader [antikvár]

FOREWORD All teachers of English as a second or later language know that intonation is unduly neglected. The chief reason is that the facts about its operations in English have not been fully discovered. Somé intonations are obviously unEnglish; but among native speakers there are great variations, and it is still not clear what features are functional and what optional. Consequently there has been a lack of textbooks treating systematically the essential patterns a learner must acquire in order to recognize and make distinctions in meaning and attitűdé. Recently more attention has been given to the problem; yet much remains to be done. Dr Lee has studied English intonation deeply with the equipment of a good phonetician and a keen amateur student of music. In Chapter III of the present book, though he judiciously refrains from pursuing his own interests and concentrates on giving just such guidance as the learner of English most needs, he has included somé originál observations of his own that contribute greatly to the understanding of the subject. His experience as a teacher and his interest in the learner's difficulties are as valuable as his mastery of the subject. The selection and arrangement of the material in this book make it a valuable aid to all learners who have gone far enough in English to use it themselves and to all teachers of English. It satisfies a long-felt need, and it is to be hoped that it will be widely used, for it gives expert help in a compact and practical form. Bruce Pattison.