Prosody & Feeling
It’s not WHAT you say, it’s HOW you say it!
Intonation 🎵
Rule: The melody of speech. A falling intonation shows certainty or completion. A rising intonation shows uncertainty, surprise, or a question.
Pace & Speed ⏱️
Rule: Speaking fast can show excitement, nervousness, or anger. Speaking slowly can show seriousness, sadness, or emphasis.
Sarcasm & Irony 🙃
Rule: Saying the opposite of what you mean. The words are positive, but a low, flat pitch and slow pace reveal the negative attitude.
Don't just trust the words!
Literal: They agree with me. ❌
Prosody (flat tone): They don't care / are annoyed. ✅
Listen & Guess 🎧
Listen & Guess 🎧
Listen & Guess 🎧
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Video Lesson
Ask a Question 🙋♂️
Recent Questions
Hi Sovan! Yes, sarcasm is VERY common in Western culture, especially in British and American English. It is often used as a form of humor between friends, not necessarily to be rude. That's why reading the tone (prosody) is so important to know if they are joking or actually angry! 🎭
What if I don't know the exact emotion, but I know it's negative. Is that enough for B2?
Yes! In most listening tests, just being able to identify if the speaker's attitude is Positive (+) or Negative (-) based on their tone of voice is enough to pick the right answer! 🎧
How can I practice intonation by myself?
The best way is "Shadowing"! Play a podcast or movie scene, pause it, and try to copy the actor's exact voice, speed, and pitch. Record yourself and compare! 🎤
Is sarcasm common in English? In Cambodia we joke, but sarcasm feels a bit rude.