Theory Notes - Grade 3

PAUSE

A pause is a stop or break in the flow of speech. It helps us to breathe, and to keep the meaning clear. We pause between phrases and at the end of sentences.

E.g.: When I got home, / the lights weren’t working.

I will go out, / if it doesn’t rain, / and do the work.

She worked well during the year / and her marks were good!

PHRASING:

A phrase is a group of words that makes some sense but not necessarily complete sense. A sentence may have only one phrase in which case the phrase will make complete sense.

So phrasing is the grouping of words, which are related in meaning.

We phrase in order to give meaning to the language and to help the speaker to take breath correctly.

What is the link between phrasing and pausing ?

If you pause correctly then your phrasing is good, as it is the pause, in speech, that indicates the end of one phrase and the start of the next - just as punctuation marks do, in the written language.

PAUSES IN POETRY

· SUSPENSIVE PAUSE:

· This is the most important pause in verse speaking.

· It occurs only in poetry –

· It occurs when the meaning of one line is continued to the next.

· At the end of the line with an incomplete meaning, the voice is held with a slight upward inflection and continued to the next line WITHOUT TAKING A BREATH so that the meaning is kept clear.

· This is also called ENJAMBMENT.

e.g.

A scandalous man I wandered lonely as a cloud

Was Mr. Tom Narrow. That floats on high o’er vales and hills.

· CAESURAL PAUSE: This pause occurs in the middle of a line of verse, usually after the main emphatic word in the line. No breath needs to be taken at this pause.

Eg: Inspired by British cheers // and loud

Proceedings from the frenzied crowd,

The quality of mercy / is not strained,

It droppeth, / like the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath; / it is twice bless’d

It blesseth him that gives / and him that takes

‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; / it becomes

The throned monarch / better than his own

· VERSE PAUSE: This pause is used to separate verses from each other - when the meaning does NOT flow from one verse to the next.

PAUSES IN PROSE

Grammatical Pause: seen after punctuation marks.

Parenthetical Pause: seen before and after what is written in brackets or parenthesis. You pause before and after the phrase in brackets. You speak the phrase at a power pitch and quicker pace – using an upward inflection at the end of the phrase.

EMPHASIS

Emphasis means giving special importance to a word.

It is possible to convey a totally different meaning by speaking the same words with different emphasis.

E.g.: “I asked for a blue dress” - (emphasis is on the color, meaning “not red”)

“I asked for a blue dress” - (emphasis is on the garment, meaning “not blouse”)

“I asked for a blue dress” - (emphasis is on the speaker, meaning “not you”)

Thus we can change the meaning by transferring the emphasis.

HOW DO YOU EMPHASIZE?

1. By pausing before and after the important word/s.

2. By speaking louder.

3. By using gesture.

4. The most important word takes the highest pitch.

5. By stretching the word slightly.

Practice the following sentences using different emphases:

· I’m going to the circus tomorrow night.

· I don’t know where he is.

· She was walking up the hill.

You must NEVER over emphasize. The meaning of what you are saying can become very unclear.