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The North Wind and
the Sun
American English version as spoken by Dr.
Thomas M. Schenk*.
*born, raised and educated in
Michigan (on the map: in the Inland North), and now working in
California (on the map: in the Far West) as a medical doctor
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1. Listen without reading.
Click
here.
2.
Rread the text without listening.
Click
here.
3. Listen
without reading again and note characteristics.
Click
here.
4. Read the
text while listening.
Click here
and then here.
Finally,
compare the G.A. and R.P. texts sylistically.
Click
here for the R.P. text.
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From: William Labov,
Phonological
Atlas of North America, 2000
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American
English version as spoken by Dr. Thomas M. Schenk
The North Wind and the Sun were arguing one day about
which of them was stronger, when a traveler came along wrapped up in
an overcoat. They agreed that the one who could make the traveler
take his coat off would be considered stronger than the other one.
Then the North Wind blew as hard as he could, but the
harder he blew, the tighter the traveler wrapped his coat around him;
and at last the North Wind gave up trying.
Then the Sun began to shine
hot , and right away the traveler took his coat off. And so the North
Wind had to admit that the Sun was stronger than he was.
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Note the differences with the text in
British English: not just lexico-grammatical, but also
pragmatic, textual, stylistic... Click
here for the R.P. text.
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to the Map of the U.S. and the listening exercise.