THE TAKE-OFF

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

(Pre-Head) (Head) Nucleus (Tail)

o
the tail
accompanies the
unstressed low low rise natural upward
movement of the
voice

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 NOTATION EXAMPLE

/ aɪ dɪdnt oɪkspekt tə osiː juː ohɪə /

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The Take-Off with Statements

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 Attitude with Statements

As with other statements that carry a rising nucleus (like the High
Bounce and the Low Bounce), there is no sense of completion of
an idea or finality.
On the contrary, complete statements said with the Take-Off invite
a further contribution to the conversation from the listener.

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 Attitude with Statements

- Have you heard about Max?

- No.
/ nəʊ /

- Hello, Frank.
- You’re looking very smart.

/ jʊə lʊkɪŋ overɪ smɑːt /

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 Attitude with Statements

Usually the speaker sounds guarded and gives the

impression that he is reserving judgement until he has heard
more from the listener or has received more information.

- I’m just back from seeing my mother.

- I trust you found her well.

/ aɪ trʌst jʊ ofaʊnd hə wel /

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 Attitude with Statements

Often the speaker uses the Take-Off to appeal to the listener

to change his attitude, which the speaker considers to be
wrong.

- What a terrible play!

- It wasn’t as bad as that.

/ ɪt wɒznt əz obæd əz oɔːl ðæt /

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 Attitude with Statements

The Take-Off is commonly used to express resentful

contradictions.

- There’s no way you have written that essay.

- Yes, I have. (I finished it this morning.)
/ jes aɪ hæv / aɪ fɪnɪʃt ɪt oðɪs mɔːnɪŋ /

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 Attitude with Statements

In non-final statements, the Take-Off is used for continuative

purposes, to show that there is more to be said, as in
enumerations.
However, the speaker implies that what he is saying is neither new
nor extremely interesting.

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 Attitude with Statements

- You can have coffee, tea or chocolate milk.

/ jə kən hæv kɒfɪ / tiː / ɔː ʧɒklɪt omɪlk /

- When I got there, he wasn’t around.

/ wen aɪ gɒt oðeə / hɪ wɒznt əraʊnd /

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The Take-Off with Wh-Questions

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 Attitude with Wh-Questions

When the nucleus is on the interrogative word, the speaker

sounds wondering. He is mildly surprised at the question and is
either echoing the listener’s question or asking for information to
be repeated.

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 Attitude with Wh-Questions

- The meeting is at five.

- When? I thought it was at six.
/ wen / aɪ θɔːt ɪt wəz ət sɪks /

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 Attitude with Wh-Questions

Other type of wh-questions are rarely said with the Take-Off.

However, if this happens, the speaker sounds extremely calm,
but disapproving and resentful.

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 Attitude with Wh-Questions

- Please don’t do that.

- Why shouldn’t I? It’s a free country.
/ waɪ ʃʊdnt aɪ / ɪts ə friː kʌntrɪ /

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The Take-Off with Y/N Questions

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 Attitude with Y/N Questions

Y/N questions said with the Take-Off express disapproval

and scepticism and should only be used in appropriate
contexts. The same goes for independent comments.

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 Attitude with Y/N
Questions
- I’m sorry now that I did that.
- Are you really sorry?
/ ɑː jʊ rɪəlɪ osɒrɪ /

- I saw you on Wednesday.

- Did you? I thought it was Tuesday.
/ dɪd juː / aɪ θɔːt ɪt wəz tjuːzdeɪ /

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 Attitude with Y/N Questions

On the contrary, when we use the Take-Off to ask question

tags, the speaker leaves the listener free to take a stand.
The speaker doesn’t sound disapproving or sceptical and he
is not demanding confirmation from the listener either.
The question tags will you?, won’t you? or would you? are
commonly used after imperative forms to make
commands sound like a form of invitation.

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 Attitude with Y/N Questions

- You didn’t feel well, did you?

/ jʊ dɪdnt ofiːl wel / dɪd jʊ /

- Come and sit next to me, will you?

/ kʌm ənd osɪt nekst tə mɪ / wɪl jʊ/

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 Attitude with Y/N Questions

As for direct question tags, they always have the Take-Off since the
speaker is referring back to or acknowledging something
previously said.

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 Attitude with Y/N Questions

- What a lovely dress!

- You like it, do you?
/ jʊ laɪk ɪt / du: jʊ /

- I need more time, please.

- You haven’t finished, haven’t you?
/ jʊ hævnt fɪnɪʃt / hævnt jʊ /

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The Take-Off with Commands

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 Attitude with Commands

The Take-Off is not commonly used with commands, except

those beginning with Don’t when the effect is appealing to
the listener to change his mind.
However, The Take-Off is commonly heard with a few
short commands that are intended to express calm
warning or strong encouragement.

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 Attitude with Commands

- I’m afraid I’ve broken it.

- Don’t worry about that.

/ dəʊnt owʌrɪ əbaʊt ðæt /

- Careful. Again.
/ keəfəl / əgen /

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The Take-Off with Interjections

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 Attitude with Interjections

Interjections are rarely said with the Take-Off.

However, there is a group of short and frequently used
interjections that commonly have this tone group. Such
interjections imply either reserved judgement or calm and
casual acknowledgement.

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 Attitude with Interjections

- Your taxi is here.

- Good.
/ gʊd /

- Your change, madam.

- Thanks.
/ θæŋks /

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 Attitude with Interjections

- I can’t help you.

- No problem. We’ll manage on our own.
/ nəʊ prɒbləm / wiːl mænɪʤ ɒn aʊər əʊn /

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