Thought GroupsThought Groups

Thought groups are verbal Thought groups are verbal punctuation.punctuation.

They make your speech more They make your speech more understandable.understandable.

You can recognize a thought group You can recognize a thought group when you hear a strongly stressed when you hear a strongly stressed word (the focus word), a sweep of word (the focus word), a sweep of melody, and a pause.melody, and a pause.

Thought GroupsThought Groups

End of a clause (a clause has a End of a clause (a clause has a subject and verb)subject and verb)

Write a clause in your scene that is a Write a clause in your scene that is a thought groupthought group

Thought GroupsThought Groups

End of a phraseEnd of a phrasePrepositional phrase ex. in the Prepositional phrase ex. in the

classroomclassroomVerb phrase ex. talk too muchVerb phrase ex. talk too muchNoun phrase ex. An ugly teacherNoun phrase ex. An ugly teacherWrite a prepositional phrase, a verb Write a prepositional phrase, a verb

phrase, and a noun phrase from your phrase, and a noun phrase from your scene that are thought groupsscene that are thought groups

Thought GroupsThought Groups

Transitional or parenthetical Transitional or parenthetical expressionsexpressions

Ex. First, finally, on the other hand, Ex. First, finally, on the other hand, butbut

Write a transitional or parenthetical Write a transitional or parenthetical expression from your scene that is a expression from your scene that is a thought groupthought group

Thought GroupsThought Groups

Remember that you can indicate a Remember that you can indicate a thought group by a slight drop in thought group by a slight drop in pitch and/or a brief pausepitch and/or a brief pause

Practice the first 10 lines of your Practice the first 10 lines of your scene with your partner using a scene with your partner using a slight drop in pitch or a brief pause to slight drop in pitch or a brief pause to indicate the thought groups.indicate the thought groups.

LinkingLinking

When consecutive words in the same When consecutive words in the same thought group end and begin with thought group end and begin with the same consonant sound, the the same consonant sound, the sound is held, not pronounced twice.sound is held, not pronounced twice.

Ex. At twelve (hold t)Ex. At twelve (hold t)Write 3 examples of this from your Write 3 examples of this from your

scene. Practice saying them.scene. Practice saying them.

LinkingLinking

When a word begins with a vowel When a word begins with a vowel sound, borrow the final consonant sound, borrow the final consonant sound from the previous word in the sound from the previous word in the same thought group.same thought group.

Ex. Take off = ta koffEx. Take off = ta koffDrop him off – dro pi moffDrop him off – dro pi moffWrite 3 examples of this from your Write 3 examples of this from your

scene Practice saying them.scene Practice saying them.

LinkingLinking

Stop consonants /p/ and /b/, /k/ and /g/, Stop consonants /p/ and /b/, /k/ and /g/, and /t/ and /d/ at the end of words are and /t/ and /d/ at the end of words are spoken at almost the same time as the spoken at almost the same time as the first consonant sound in the next words. first consonant sound in the next words. Hold the stop until you are ready to say Hold the stop until you are ready to say the next sound.the next sound.

Ex. Cab driver (hold the b until ready to Ex. Cab driver (hold the b until ready to say the d) Lab techniciansay the d) Lab technician

Write 3 examples of this from your scene.Write 3 examples of this from your scene. Practice saying them.Practice saying them.

When a word ends in /t/ and the next When a word ends in /t/ and the next word begins with /y/, the blended word begins with /y/, the blended sound is /tS/ as in choose. Common in sound is /tS/ as in choose. Common in negative questionsnegative questions

Ex. Don’t you ( sounds like “don Ex. Don’t you ( sounds like “don chew”)chew”)

Can’t you, Haven’t youCan’t you, Haven’t you

Write 3 examples of this from your Write 3 examples of this from your scene Practice saying them.scene Practice saying them.

When a word ends in /d/ and the next word When a word ends in /d/ and the next word begins with /y/, the blended sound is /dz/ begins with /y/, the blended sound is /dz/ as in juice. Common in past tense as in juice. Common in past tense questions and questions with could, should questions and questions with could, should and would. and would.

Ex. Did you (sounds like “di joo”)Ex. Did you (sounds like “di joo”) Could youCould you

Write 3 examples of this from your scene Write 3 examples of this from your scene Practice saying them.Practice saying them.