Listening: Overall Listening Mastery C2 - Lesson 3: Differentiating Finer Shades of Meaning Expressed Through Prosody and Lexis

C2 Mastery: Listening Between the Lines CEFR Level C2 Lesson Goals In this capstone lesson, you will synthesize your listening skills to differentiate finer shades of meaning . You will learn to analyze how a speaker's word choice ( lexis ) and tone of voice ( prosody ) interact to convey complex attitudes, intentions, and emotions that are not explicitly stated. The Interplay of Lexis and Prosody At the C2 level, comprehension transcends literal meaning. It requires interpreting the interplay between the words a speaker chooses (lexis) and the "music" of their speech (prosody). A simple word like "fine" can signal enthusiastic agreement, reluctant acceptance, or passive-aggressive anger, depending entirely on the speaker's intonation, pace, and stress. A masterful listener analyzes both elements simultaneously to uncover the true meaning. Practice Scenario: Reacting to a Proposal Imagine a colleague has just proposed a very ambitious and risky new project. Listen to t…