‘Noise is the most impertinent of all forms of interruption’ - Arthur Schopenhauer, German philospher

Sounds and human voice How noisy is it where you

work/study? What noises can you

hear? Do any of these noises

effect your concentration ?

It Drives me mad!!! Source: New English File Advanced, OUP

The most Irritating soundsMobile ring tonesPersonal Phone CallsPeople slurping tea an coffeePeople Tapping the keyboard of their

computerThe boss’s voiceThe crunch of people eating crispsThe ‘hold’ music on the telephoneThe hum of the air conditioning

Pronunciation Consonant Clusters – at the beginning of a word

Two sounds• Click • Slam• Crash• Slurp • Drip • Snore• Stammer

Three sounds Screech ScreamSplash

At the end of the word Two sounds

Shouts Sniffs Yelled hummed

Three soundsCrunched Mumbled Crisps Rattled

Listening Listen to Julian Treasure, an accoustician, talking

on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme about noise pollution. Tick the best summary of what he says:

a.Companies need to pay attention not only to how they look, but also how they sound.

b.Businesses and organizations should stop playing background music. Silence is much more relaxing

c.It is more important for restaurants and shops to have the right background noiise than it is for offices

Answer the questions1. What does the book Sound Business claim?2. What are some of the noises he complains

about in the shop?3. According to the reporter, what are the

three most annoying noises?4. How many people he stopped seemed

positive about background music? 5. What is the problem with the way

businesses are using sound at the moment?6. What do experts think is the right kind of

sound to have in a public place?

Work with a partner. What kind of sounds/music do you think you should have....?In bars and restaurantsIn class at a language schoolIn an office In a hotel receptionAt the hairdresser’s In a supermarketIn a clothes shop On public transportIn the weights room of a gym

Speculation and deduction 1. That sounds like the neighbours’ dog

-- It can’t be/mustn’t be. They’ve gone away for the weekend and they’ve taken the dog with them.

2. There’s no sound coming from his room. He probably hasn’t /hasn’t probably woken up yet.

3. Did you hear that bang in the middle of the night? It woke me up.

---Yes, I did. It must be/must have been the wind.

4. Can you turn the music down? If we make too much noise the woman upstairs will likely call/is likely to call the police.

Modal Verbs MUST MAY MIGHT CAN’T SHOULD

Which is more certain ?

A.I ‘ll answer the phone. It could be my mother. B. That must be my mother. She said she’d call

at five.

A.It can’t be Jim. He is coming tomorrow.

B.It might not be Jim. He did not say exactly when he is arriving.

A.Ruth could have sent this package but there wa no return address.

B.Ruth must have sent this package because it is her address on the back.

A.It couldn’t have been Tricia who rang because she’s away.

B.It may not have been Tricia who rang. Trevor also wanted to speak to me.