English Presentation Skills- Intonation and Linking

Yu-Hui Tao

ytao@nuk.edu.tw

愈忙愈要學英文字串 簡報篇 by Quentin Brand 貝塔語言出版

Intonation

Intonation is the up and down of your voice when speaking, which is like the music composed by sounds.

What is Intonation?

In general, lowrt the tone at the end of the sentence;

Unless it is yes/no questions that your tone will be raised at the end;

You can use intonation to emphasize key words or phrases.

In presentation, you should use intonation to attract the audience on the interested and emphasized points, and to express your kindness and hospitality.

Benefits of Intonation?

It is especially important at the beginning of a presentation for good impression and influences.

Illustrations of Intonation

Speaking in daily life

Speaking in presentationListen to mp3.02 on pp. 46-47

Linking

Fluent English can be achieved with good control of intonation and linking, which

helps to build the audience’s

confidence on you.

What is Linking?

(http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/linking.htm)

We join or "link" words to each other.

They do not always sound the same as when we say them individually.

Benefits:

1. you will understand other people more easily

2. other people will understand you more easily

Vowel: a, e, i, o, uConsonant: …t, p, j,…

Linking Rule 1

Word1 C V word2 Word1 CVword2

e.g., good evening goo devening

Vowel: a, e, i, o, uConsonant: …t, p, j,…

Linking Rule 1

Word1 C V word2 Word1 CVword2

e.g., good evening goo devening

Vowel: a, e, i, o, uConsonant: …t, p, j,…

Linking Rule 2

Word1 C1 C2 word2 Word1 Cword2

e.g., recent developments recendevelpments

e.g., just-in-time management just-in-timemanagement

Vowel: a, e, i, o, uConsonant: …t, p, j,…

Linking Rule 3

Word1 V C word2 Word1 V Cword2

e.g., …be showing… …beshowing…

e.g., a pleasure apleasure

Vowel: a, e, i, o, uConsonant: …t, p, j,…

Linking Rule 4

Word1 V V word2 Word1 V Vword2

e.g., …you about… …youabout…

e.g., a pleasure apleasure

y, w, r

Listen to mp3.03 on pp. 51-54

These rules occur naturally only when you speak fast.

If you feel it is difficult, just practice to speak faster.

If you can link words better, it does make your presentation better. Otherwise, it may ruin your presentation.

Don’t force it. Before you cannot speak faster with more natural linking, just speak clearly each words.

Practice of Linking (mp3.03)