2.2 流利度:流利就是说rap?
口语的第一项评分标准就是流利度,而流利度又可以分为三部分:速度、节奏和语调。
速度调节
口语速度是否越快越好呢?我们先来了解一下以不同语速说话时的感受。
·90~110词/分钟:VOA慢速英文
·140~160词/分钟:四级听力
·160~170词/分钟:六级听力
·190~220词/分钟:雅思听力
·220词以上/分钟:英美剧
你会选择以什么样的语速来回答呢?
接下来Cherry通过对流利度和准确率的大数据调查为大家提供一些切实可行的学习备考建议,大家可以根据自己的目标分数找到自己的理想语速和正确率。
流利度(语速)w/m=考生每分钟说多少词
Band 5:85-95 w/m
Band 6:108-121 w/m
Band 7:125-140 w/m
Band 8:135-152 w/m
正确率(语法词汇)errors/100w=考生每说100词的错误数量
Band 5:4.05 errors/100w
Band 6:3.33 errors/100w
Band 7:1.54 errors/100w
Band 8:0.78 errors/100w
可以看出,如果你想突破5分拿到6分,大体上说,你的重心应该放在语速上。因为从5分到6分语速增加了25%左右,这是巨大的飞跃!但是正确率却相差不大。因此为了达到1分钟100个有效词的要求,需要说100*(4+1)/4=125词。换句话说,你要一直不停地使用各种词语去“轰炸”考官,虽然词汇质量欠佳,但能以数量取胜,最终让考官从你的回答中获取部分有效信息,实现交流。
如果你想突破6分拿到7分,语速确实需要提高,但重点需要放在减少错误上,因为7分对准确度的要求(Band 7:1.54 errors/100w)较6分(Band 6:3.33 errors/100w)而言大大提高了。因此,大家在保持语速的同时应该关注用词和语法的准确性,避免出现低级的语法错误。
当然,如果你的英语足够流利,那么语速对你来说已经是一种习惯,就无须多加考虑了。不过,口语考试的语速只要达到每分钟90~110词就可以了。此外,有些考生在考场上由于神经紧张,可能语速还会不自觉地加快,导致思路跟不上。因此,稳住心态、保持语速是大家计时练习的重点。
那么问题又来了,如何调节语速和保持准确度呢?Cherry发现大部分考生是具备一定词汇基础和语法搭配能力的,那么他们为什么在口语考试中不能做到应对自如呢?根源在于他们记忆和使用词汇的方法有误。
大家通常是怎样背单词的呢?打开词典:abandon抛弃放弃、抛弃放弃abandon。结束!但是大家再回想一下,自己在日常口语中使用过abandon吗?NEVER!而如何使用词汇是口语考试对词汇运用的新要求。那么,如何使用词汇呢?
从英英释义做起,弄清楚词汇的含义和用法,然后应用在日常表达中(下面以abandon为例简单说明)。
abandon在《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》中的英文释义是:
动词
·抛弃If you abandon a place,thing,or person,you leave the place,thing,or person permanently or for a long time,especially when you should not do so.
·中途放弃If you abandon an activity or piece of work,you stop doing it before it is finished.
·放弃(想法或思想方式) If you abandon an idea or way of thinking,you stop having that idea or thinking in that way.
应用:大家可以通过例句学会词汇的使用场景以及在日常生活中常用的替换词汇give up等。
The authorities have abandoned any attempt to distribute food in an orderly fashion.当局放弃了任何有序地分发食品的尝试。
Logic had prevailed and he had abandoned the idea.理性占了上风,他放弃了该想法。
名词
·放纵If you say that someone does something with abandon,you mean that they behave in a wild,uncontrolled way and do not think or care about how they should behave.
应用:大家可以记住with abandon,并将其运用在日常表达中。
He approached life with reckless abandon—I don't think he himself knew what he was going to do next.他以不计后果的放纵态度对待生活——我想他自己都不知道他接下来要做什么。
当大家需要表达“某人遇到困难没有放弃”时,就可以使用abandon,甚至直接使用英文释义里的句子来提高语速、确保准确度。
Question:Why do some adults take part in dangerous water sports?
Answer:I believe the most important reason is that they find dangerous sports thrilling,so when they go on adventures,they are able to have a blast(冲击) that other people could never possibly imagine.Some dangerous sports like bungee jumping(蹦极) could let people learn not to abandon what they are doing in the face of difficulties.
节奏语调
我们听英语母语人士讲英语会觉得很好听,因为他们会很自然地使用抑扬顿挫的语调。而考生们通常并不以英语为母语,且缺乏使用英语的环境,而通过书本学习通常只能练成较为机械的语音语调,因而像朗读课文一样说英语是很多考生的通病。特别提醒:大家需要有意识地练习英美音的发音语调,在理解原理的同时还需要多多跟读例句模仿练习。接下来,Cherry将为大家讲解英美音发音的不同技巧以及范例。
美音句子的语调技巧
·陈述句:一般采用降调,从中等水平起,在句子重音词上抬高,句尾下降。
·祈使句:与陈述句基本相同,采用降调。注意:please出现在句首时重读,出现在句尾时无须重读。
·特殊疑问句:绝大部分采用降调,极少数表示强调的情形采用升调。
·一般疑问句:采用升调。注意:升调不是指句子的最后一个词使用升调,而是从句子中需要重读的词开始升,一直升到句子的结尾。
·选择疑问句:前升后降,以连接词or为分界线。
·成串数字、字母、单词等连续出现:分组对待,前面若干组均为升调,最后一组为降调。
提醒:无论在何种情形下,句子或单词的升降调并非绝对的,应以表达的意思为准。请大家在掌握规律的基础之上,结合语意、语境说出流利悦耳的英语。
英音句子的语调技巧
·各句式语调升降规律与美音几乎一致。
·标准英音中句子升降调变化比美音中少,语调感觉更“平稳”。
·英音句子中绝大部分词组结尾均为降调。
技巧练习
大家可以根据图示以及提供的英美音朗读范文来模仿学习语调的起伏变化。
Example 1
The nature reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan Province has posted pictures of an all-white-furred panda on Saturday.Different from its black-and-white friends,the all-white panda has red eyes.Animal experts said it might be a mutation aged one to two years old.
Example 2
The annual Cannes Film Festival rolled out its famous red carpet on Tuesday night for an opening ceremony attended by the who's who of the international film industry.Set to run until May 25,the French festival features screenings from around the world.
Example 3
On World Poetry Day,falling on 21 March we recognize the moving spirit of poetry and its transformative effect on culture.The day,founded in 1999 by UNESCO,aims to celebrate poetry's power.Many schools and bookshops around the country celebrate the occasion,with special events being held.
Example 4
KFC has launched a restaurant themed to honour the communist soldier and hero Lei Feng.The restaurant opened Sunday ahead of the soldier's remembrance day on March 5.Cartoon figures of Lei Feng and wall papers with excerpts from his diary are part of the decorations in the restaurant in Changsha.
Example 5
The Internet is losing its collective mind over these adorable new cat paw cups that have been released by Starbucks China.The cups feature double walls so that the inner shape looks like a cat's paw dipping into the cup,as well as a cute cherry blossom design on the outer glass.