Questions vs. Statements: American English Pronunciation

Today I am going to talk about word stress and questions vs. statements.

今天我要講「單字的重音」及

「疑問句」與「直述句」的比較

In English, statements generally tend to go down in pitch throughout the phrase.

在英文中，「直述句」通常越往片語後面，音高就越低

I'll be there by three.

我 3 點前會到

"I'll" is higher than "three".

「我會」的音比「3 點」還高

Questions, on the other hand, tend to go up at the end.

另一方面，「疑問句」的尾音往往會上揚

Have you seen Mary? Have you seen Mary?

你已見過 Mary 了？；你已見過 Mary 了？

Let's look at three phrases that can be either questions or statements.

我們來看 3 個片語，它們既可為疑問句，亦可為直述句

For example: You know what I mean.

例如：你知道我的意思

This can be a statement

這段話可以是「直述句」

If you're talking to somebody and you're explaining something,

如果你正跟某人講話，而且是在說明事情

but you know that they understand,

你知道他們都了解

maybe because they've had the same experience.

或許因為他們曾有過相同經驗

You might say: You know what I mean.

你可以說：「你知道我的意思吧！」

Statement.

這是直述句

But if you're talking

但如果你正在講話

and you want to make sure that person is understanding you,

而你又想確定一下那人明白你的意思

you might say: You know what I mean?

那你可以說：「你知道我的意思嗎？」

asking a question.

你問了一個問題

Statement: You know what I mean.

直述句「你知道我的意思吧！」

You know what I mean. Voice goes down.

你知道我的意思吧！ 聲音往下降

Question: You know what I mean?

疑問句「你知道我的意思嗎？」

You know what I mean? Voice goes up at the end.

你知道我的意思嗎？ 尾音往上揚

The simple word "Me" could be a question or a statement.

這個簡單的字「Me」，可作為一個疑問句，或直述句

Let's say, for example, you're with a group of people

舉例來說，假設你跟一群人在一起

and someone says who can help me tomorrow.

當中有人問：「明天誰可以幫我？」

You might volunteer and say "Me." , "Me." , "Me."

你可能自告奮勇說：「我！」。我！ 我！

Voice goes down in pitch. "Me."

聲音的音調下降。 我！

But, let's say the person who asked who can help me is staring right at you.

但假設問「誰可以幫我？」的這個人，直盯著你看

And you feel like: Are they asking me?

你感覺像是：他們是在問我嗎？

Then you might say: Me?

那你可以說：「我？」

Question. Me?

這是疑問句「我？」

As in: Are you specifically asking me to help?

就像在問：「你是特別找我幫忙的嗎？」

Me. Statement.

我！ 這是直述句

Me? Question.

我？ 這是疑問句

See you tomorrow.

明天見

Let's say you are at work and you know that

假設你正在上班，而且你知道

you're going to be at work tomorrow

你明天還會上班

and so is your colleague.

而你的同事也一樣

When you part ways, you might say: See you tomorrow.

當你們道別時，你可以說：「明天見！」

Statement.

這是直述句

But maybe you're not sure that your colleague will be there

但也許你不確定你的同事還會上班

Then you might say: See you tomorrow?

那你可以說：「明天見？」

Question.

這是疑問句

That would be like asking: Are you going to be in tomorrow?

這像在問：「你明天會上班嗎？」

See you tomorrow?

明天見？

Statement: See you tomorrow. Voice goes down.

直述句「明天見！」 聲音往下降

Question: See you tomorrow? Voice goes up at the end.

疑問句「明天見？」 尾音上揚

接下來的短片使用可分析說話的免費軟體

參見 RachelsEnglish.com，取得此免費軟體的連結

此處你會看到 3 個片語的「音高」

以「疑問句」及「直述句」的形式成對顯示

Now you will hear some phrases.

現在，你會聽到一些片語

You need to decide if it is a question or a statement

你要決定它是「疑問句」，還是「直述句」

based on the word stress.

可從「單字的重音」上找答案

You’re coming at three... You’re coming at three...

你 3 點會到 ↗；你 3 點會到 ↗

Question.

這是疑問句

I am trying to confirm that this person will be coming at three.

我正試著確認此人 3 點會到

You're coming at three? Voice goes up at the end

你 3 點會到嗎？ 尾音上揚

He saw her yesterday... He saw her yesterday...

他昨天見過她 ↘；他昨天見過她 ↘

Statement. He saw her yesterday.

這是直述句

他昨天見過她

Voice goes down throughout the phrase.

越往片語後面，聲音就越往下降

We're going... We're going...

我們正要去... ↘；我們正要去... ↘

Statement.

這是直述句

We're going. Voice goes down in pitch

我們正要去...

聲音的音高下降

We're going... We're going...

我們正要去... ↗；我們正要去 ...↗

Question. Voice goes up in pitch

這是疑問句

聲音的音高上揚

He hurt her feelings... He hurt her feelings...

他傷了她的感情 ↗；他傷了她的感情 ↗

Question. Voice goes up at the end

這是疑問句，尾音上揚

He hurt her feelings?

他傷了她的感情嗎？

They said no... They said no...

他們說不行 ↘；他們說不行 ↘

Statement. They said no.

這是直述句，他們說不行

Voice goes down in picth throughout that phrase.

越往片語後面，聲音的音高就越往下降

We'll see them Monday... We'll see them Monday...

我們週一會見到他們 ↗；我們週一會見到他們 ↗

Question. Voice goes up at the end.

這是疑問句，尾音上揚

We'll see them Monday?

我們週一會見到他們嗎？

做得好！