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Example sentences


The five series of test syllable environments arising from the design of the sentence materials (see DESIGN page) are illustrated here. For both types of keywords, right-headed and left-headed, the sentences for one keyword are shown in each series. The right-headed example keyword is mend and the left-headed example keyword is mace. The full set of sentences (see SENTENCES page) comprise these sentences and analogous sentences for the other seven right-headed keywords and the other seven left-headed keywords, as listed in the design of the sentence materials (see DESIGN page).

As the examples below illustrate, the first, shortest sentence is the same in the utterance-medial Keyword Series A, B and C. Likewise, the first, shortest sentence is the same in the utterance-edge Keyword Series D and E. These common sentences were not recorded separately for each keyword series.

To control the placement of accent, speakers were asked to emphasise certain words, indicated by capital letters, in each sentence. There were two accent conditions for each sentence, as shown in the tables for each keyword series. In the accented condition, the keyword was in capitals, and thus was emphasised by the speakers. In the unaccented condition, other words earlier and/or later in the sentence were in capitals, and thus were emphasised by the speakers; in the unaccented condition, the keyword was not emphasised.

Each example sentence is linked to a .wav file of that sentence as uttered by one of the six speakers.



Keyword Series A example sentences: utterance-medial; fixed utterance length; variable word length.

Full discussion of the design of the sentences in Keyword Series A is provided on
pages 147 to 149 in Chapter 4 of English speech timing: a domain and locus approach (see DISSERTATION page).
Right-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
John saw Jessica MEND it again JOHN saw Jessica mend it AGAIN
John saw Jessie COMMEND it again JOHN saw Jessie commend it AGAIN
John saw Jess RECOMMEND it again JOHN saw Jess recommend it AGAIN
Left-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
I saw the MACE unreclaimed again I SAW the mace unreclaimed AGAIN
I saw the MASON reclaimed it all I SAW the mason reclaimed it ALL
I saw the MASONRY cleaned again I SAW the masonry cleaned AGAIN


SERIES A  SERIES B  SERIES C  SERIES D  SERIES E


Keyword Series B example sentences: utterance-medial; variable utterance length; fixed word length.

Full discussion of the design of the sentences in Keyword Series B is provided on
pages 149 and 150 in Chapter 4 of English speech timing: a domain and locus approach (see DISSERTATION page).
Right-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
John saw Jessica MEND it again JOHN saw Jessica mend it AGAIN
Johnny saw Jessica MEND it again JOHNNY saw Jessica mend it AGAIN
Jonathan saw Jessica MEND it again JONATHAN saw Jessica mend it AGAIN
Left-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
I saw the MACE unreclaimed again I SAW the mace unreclaimed AGAIN
I saw the MACE unreclaimed once again I SAW the mace unreclaimed once AGAIN
I saw the MACE unreclaimed by them again I SAW the mace unreclaimed by them AGAIN


SERIES A  SERIES B  SERIES C  SERIES D  SERIES E


Keyword Series C example sentences: utterance-medial; variable utterance length; variable word length.

Full discussion of the design of the sentences in Keyword Series C is provided on
pages 150 and 151 in Chapter 4 of English speech timing: a domain and locus approach (see DISSERTATION page).
Right-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
John saw Jessica MEND it again JOHN saw Jessica mend it AGAIN
John saw Alison COMMEND it again JOHN saw Alison commend it AGAIN
John saw Alison RECOMMEND it again JOHN saw Alison recommend it AGAIN
Left-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
I saw the MACE unreclaimed again I SAW the mace unreclaimed AGAIN
I saw the MASON disinclined again I SAW the mason disinclined AGAIN
I saw the MASONRY disinterred again I SAW the masonry disinterred AGAIN


SERIES A  SERIES B  SERIES C  SERIES D  SERIES E


Keyword Series D example sentences: utterance-edge; variable utterance length; fixed word length.

Full discussion of the design of the sentences in Keyword Series D is provided on
pages 151 and 152 in Chapter 4 of English speech timing: a domain and locus approach (see DISSERTATION page).
Right-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
MEND it again for me please Mend it AGAIN for me please
Now MEND it again for me please Now mend it AGAIN for me please
Will you MEND it again for me please Will you mend it AGAIN for me please
Left-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
Albert threw the MACE Albert THREW the mace
Albert threw the MACE up Albert THREW the mace up
Albert threw the MACE again Albert THREW the mace again


SERIES A  SERIES B  SERIES C  SERIES D  SERIES E


Keyword Series E example sentences: utterance-edge; variable utterance length; variable word length.

Full discussion of the design of the sentences in Keyword Series E is provided on
pages 152 and 153 in Chapter 4 of English speech timing: a domain and locus approach (see DISSERTATION page).
Right-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
MEND it again for me please Mend it AGAIN for me please
COMMEND it again for me please Commend it AGAIN for me please
RECOMMEND it again for me please Recommend it AGAIN for me please
Left-headed keywords
Sentence type Accented condition sentence Unaccented condition sentence
Albert threw the MACE Albert THREW the mace
Albert threw the MASON Albert THREW the mason
Albert threw the MASONRY Albert THREW the masonry



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