LESSON 47.

SOUND
47.1. The human voice
Here are some brief extracts from novels, where people's voices and speech are
being described.
- Lennox noticed a trace of a foreign accent in the man's voice. It was a booming
voice, one he had heard before, many years ago.
- Wilson watched Robert trying to fire the gun. Then, in a gruff voice, he said,
‘You're useless! Bring it here!' Robert muttered something under his breath as he
obeyed.
- Zoe met with a stony silence as she entered the room. It was as if everyone had
lost their voice. Nobody uttered a word5 as she walked across to the table.
- The woman spoke with a broad6 Scottish accent. She had a rather husky voice,
which James found attractive, but she slurred her words a little, as if she were too
tired to talk.
- Muffled voices could be heard coming from the next room, but I couldn't make
out what was being said.
- After failing to dissuade her son from leaving his job, she raised her voice angrily
and shouted, ‘Okay, do it your way then!'
1. very slight
2. very loud
3. low, unfriendly and harsh
4. cold and unfriendly
5. note, this collocation is normally in the negative or has a negative subject
6. strong (of accents)
7. low and rough, often thought to be attractive
8. spoke unclearly, running the sounds together
9. quiet and unclear
47.2. Sound and Silence
Here are four winning entries from a student poetry competition. The theme of the
competition was ‘Sound and silence'
- A clap of thunder then a deathly hush. In a soft whisper the wind tells the moon
how beautiful she is.
- Silence descends on Carthmore Lake. My heart is still. Only the distant echo of a
sad cry can be heard.
- In the street below, the incessant noise of trams and vans of trucks and cars. But
my soul makes no sound. Here in this darkened room silence reigns.
- A dull thud awakens me. The sound travels from the valley where it was made to
this place here, where no one dares let out a cry.
1. sudden loud noise made by thunder
2. extreme silence, in a way that is unpleasant
3. which never stops
4. dominates
5. unclear sound made when something heavy falls
47.3
47.4. Exercise
47.4.1. Read the sentences. Then answer the questions
- Despite his gruff voice, Fabrice's boss is actually quite an approachable person.
- Zara was unable to utter a word when she realised the child was injured.
- Kevin spoke in a booming voice, as if he were an army sergeant.
- Ilona raised her voice and angrily addressed the young man at the door.
- As she entered, she could hear Joe's husky voice addressing someone.
1. Who spoke in an extremely loud voice?
2. Who spoke in a low, rough, but perhaps attractive way?
3. Who spoke in a low, unfriendly voice?
4. Who started to speak louder than before?
5. Who found it impossible to speak?
47.4.2. Complete each sentence using a word from the box in the appropriate
form.
descend whisper mutter let lose make slur travel utter
1. The grumpy old woman……something under her breath.
2. Try not to ……a sound as we pass the baby's bedroom.
3. We didn't……a single word as Harry told his sad tale.
4. The sound……through the thin walls of my apartment; I hear everything.
5. The patient……out a cry of pain as the doctor took her hand.
6. Silence……on the hall as Mrs Traynor walked to the platform to speak.
7. The man was so ill, his voice sounded like a soft ……
8. What's the matter with you? Have you…..your voice? Say something!
9. Travis……his words somewhat. I thought he might have been drinking.
47.4.3. Correct the collocation errors in these sentences.
1. I could hear a slight track of an Irish accent in her voice.
2. Paolo was met with a rocky silence as everyone tried to absorb the bad news.
3. The old woman let off a cry of anger when she heard the result of the trial.
4. She has a wide American accent, even though she was not born there.
5. The weather was terrible last night, with heavy rain and cries of thunder.
6. The voices were muttered, so I could not make out what anyone was saying.
7. Silence ruled in the classroom as the pupils were all hard at work.
8. Speak up. I hate it when you mutter something under your voice.
47.4.4. Replace the underlined words with their opposites to form collocations
from the opposite page.
1. The nearby echo of gunfire could be heard across the valley.
2. The intermittent noise of the planes kept me awake all night.
3. In a loud whisper she said, ‘You look wonderful tonight.'
4. I heard a sharp thud as the men dropped the heavy box on the floor above me.
5. There was a joyful hush in the room as the director broke the news.
6. Suddenly there was a murmur of thunder and it started to rain heavily.