tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post4814679556715473011..comments2024-01-16T22:54:52.869-08:00Comments on A World of Englishes: Intonation and train announcementsJane Setterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-71691095718212957892014-03-07T02:31:02.060-08:002014-03-07T02:31:02.060-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01767602946976241305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-84961130294538717622014-01-02T23:45:14.583-08:002014-01-02T23:45:14.583-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01767602946976241305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-29915631956053211672013-11-25T22:16:14.712-08:002013-11-25T22:16:14.712-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01767602946976241305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-69716009816174771012013-11-07T01:01:19.806-08:002013-11-07T01:01:19.806-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01767602946976241305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-9986065464920198792013-10-31T13:10:35.495-07:002013-10-31T13:10:35.495-07:00You may well be right on both counts. But these ar...You may well be right on both counts. But these are automated messages I'm talking about. I'm the days of real, live announcers anything could happen. :-)Jane Setterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-56356191421626800252013-10-31T13:07:27.288-07:002013-10-31T13:07:27.288-07:00Wonderful! Good to know that it's not just Eng...Wonderful! Good to know that it's not just English train announcements which amuse. :-DJane Setterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-87934411267646059912013-10-29T15:34:36.457-07:002013-10-29T15:34:36.457-07:00Apologies in advance as I am not a linguist (not e...Apologies in advance as I am not a linguist (not even sure what that is......sorry) but happened to stumble across this blog and this topic reminded me of a recent trip I made on the Paris Metro. I was fascinated by the hugely exaggerated tones of the announcements for each station; initially intrigued ... but, after a few stops it became annoying ...almost disturbing ! As the the metro approached each station it was announced in advance with such anticipation that I was almost excited to discover I would soon be in the environs of Saint Sulpice, St Placide and, soon after, Montparnasse Bienvenue - wow ! Montparnasse ! Get me out quick ! Open the bloody doors 'coz this is where I want to be. Each of the seven syllables was pronounced with such a rising crescendo of enthusiasm that you would have thought Jane Birkin had been spotted strolling naked down the very boulevard just a few metres above our heads...but wait ! what's this ! Just as the doors are about to open there is a sudden dramatic mood change. What the JacquesChirac is this all about ? The announcer suddenly puts the mockers on the whole Jane Birkin expectation thing by announcing the Montparnasse Bienvenue in such a bloody moody French 'shrugged-shoulders' way that I feel more like chucking myself in the Seine...it must be a real skill to pronounce seven syllables starting low and going down the scale.<br /><br />Brilighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13080120299516186409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-36529029704236310692013-10-03T07:55:34.861-07:002013-10-03T07:55:34.861-07:00A most interesting post. Sorry to be so late.
Re...A most interesting post. Sorry to be so late.<br /><br />Re. 6(b): <br />a. 20 referring tones would, in human speech, be very unusual I suspect. Surely, some grouping would happen – possibly like this, from a human announcer way back in the early 60’s, on a neighbouring line:<br /> pWhitton Feltham Ashford Staines<br /> rEgham<br /> rVirginia Water,<br /> rAddlestone<br /> pWeybridge<br />This heard example was not from a native speaker, but I think that a native speaker might have done the same or similar. Regardless of the grouping, the tones would be r, or r+ as you suggest. (The first p tone just provides variety, I suppose, though the provision of variety may not be in the DI system!)<br />b. I have the impression that a consistent rising intonation for lists does appear in long formulaic announcements, where it gives the impression of detached weariness and bureaucratic predictability: authoritarianness rather than authoritativeness!<br />Barry Cusackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02246323000719304735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-70667840287937882412013-10-01T09:58:04.476-07:002013-10-01T09:58:04.476-07:00Aww thanks Emilio. :-)Aww thanks Emilio. :-)Jane Setterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-5721633939662216572013-10-01T09:57:39.984-07:002013-10-01T09:57:39.984-07:00You are a true linguistics geek, Chris. :-DYou are a true linguistics geek, Chris. :-DJane Setterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-83005682657692140602013-09-17T02:18:21.891-07:002013-09-17T02:18:21.891-07:00This is really interesting and I can see why it am...This is really interesting and I can see why it amused you! You've also given me the confidence to "out" myself as someone who got excited about the intonation patterns of a train announcement:<br /><br />This wasn't so much about the intonation used as the placement of the tonic syllable. I'm regularly on trains that pass through "didcot PARKway", with the standard falling-rising intonation. On one particularly difficult journey back from Wales, I was diverted to Newport Gwent before I could get on a train to Reading. This is quite near Bristol Parkway station so a lot of the announcements mentioned it, and I wasn't surprised to hear "bristol PARKway" with the same falling-rising pattern as it's the same structure as Didcot.<br /><br />What really got me though was when the announcement for my train came through, calling at Bristol Parkway, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, Reading and London Paddington. I can't underline on here so I've stuck to capitalizing only the tonic syllables:<br /><br />// (r) calling at bristol PARKway // (r) SWINdon // (r) DIDcot parkway // (r) READing // (p) and london PADDington //<br /><br />Because of the existence of a previous "Parkway" in the list, they've actually recorded a third version of "Didcot Parkway" with the TS on the first syllable to mimic ordinary speech - "not BRIStol parkway this time, but DIDcot parkway instead". Pretty impressive, I think!<br /><br />I spent the rest of the journey saying the list over and over under my breath trying different intonation patters and probably worrying the other passengers.Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07297404444903775136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-40190428387153554182013-09-13T16:11:52.004-07:002013-09-13T16:11:52.004-07:00slippery subject + effective exemplification = pri...slippery subject + effective exemplification = printer at workAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01762196203762970377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-67832442217619019842013-09-13T06:51:25.235-07:002013-09-13T06:51:25.235-07:00A good post. Of course, L2 intonation patterns are...A good post. Of course, L2 intonation patterns are a-whole-nother area. Tonicity - as you comment - can be an issue in L2, and is important for meaning. The problem I have with South West Trains' announcement is tone choice.Jane Setterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213725380324824711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817242166326386497.post-3828905347084546122013-09-13T06:32:21.081-07:002013-09-13T06:32:21.081-07:00Jane, something similar has happened to me on Ital...Jane, something similar has happened to me on Italian trains:<br /><br />http://alex-ateachersthoughts.blogspot.it/2011/09/wrong-tonicity-and-much-more-at-italian.htmlAlex Rotatorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15221253493502707131noreply@blogger.com