Exercise 8-3: bit or beat？
We've discussed intonation in terms of new information, contrast, opinion, and negatives. As you heard on p.3, American tend to stretch out certain one-syllable words…. But which ones? The answer is simple—— when a single syllable word ends in an unvoiced consonant, the vowel is on a single stairstep——short and sharp. When the word ends in a voiced consonant, or a vowel, the vowel is on a double stairstep. （for an explanation of voiced and unvoiced consonants, see page 62.） You can also think of this terms of musical notes.
Here you are going to compare the four words bit, bid, beat, bead. Once you can distinguish these four, all of the rest are easy.
Repeat: bit, bid, beat, bead.
We've discussed intonation in terms of new information, contrast, opinion, and negatives. As you heard on p.3, American tend to stretch out certain one-syllable words…. But which ones? The answer is simple—— when a single syllable word ends in an unvoiced consonant, the vowel is on a single stairstep——short and sharp. When the word ends in a voiced consonant, or a vowel, the vowel is on a double stairstep. （for an explanation of voiced and unvoiced consonants, see page 62.） You can also think of this terms of musical notes.
Here you are going to compare the four words bit, bid, beat, bead. Once you can distinguish these four, all of the rest are easy.
Repeat: bit, bid, beat, bead.