Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P.

Smith 2011
1
Ph I Dictations for HW
Set 2
Key & Ordinary Spelling

Dictation 1

, d:sl o !ju: svI:ls ,

sII ] vnls o !+:sl 0ip ju iImcmbo pI:lo ]
pI:lo ] o !+:s 0ip ls I:zI ] ai iImcmbo mai m:m voz aul v:n dci ]
on ai voz oIoun in o haus ] ai vcnl lo o bu:0ium ] on !aund o bnlI ]
in o di: ] ai oupond il ]
s ] vnl vnz il ]
p ] jcIou lbIols ]
s ] vnl vo ci IaiL ]
p ] hniibI ]
s ] did: *1 m:m !aind aul ]
p ] jcs ] jI did ] vcn jI Lcim houm ] ai IuLl vciI iI ] sou jI !ound o dnLlo =
*1 Coalescence.

Just a Few Sweets

Sally: Whats the first thing you remember, Peter?
Peter: The first thing? Thats easy. I remember my mum was out one day, and I was alone in the house. I
went to the bathroom, and found a bottle, in the drawer. I opened it.
S: What was it?
P: Yellow tablets.
S: What were they like?
P: Horrible.
S: Did your mum find out?
P: Yes, she did. When she came home I looked very ill, so she phoned the doctor.
77 w
Source: Adapted from Breakaway 2 by Bolton, D. and L. Peterson. UK: Nelson. (1984) (p. 11)


Dictation 2

, bicL!osl laim ,

m:o , slnp du:ip l dnn , ju nou j: !u:o d:znl IaiL il ,
bi , slnp du:ip vnl , iI:dip o nju:zpcipo ,
m , iI:dip o nju:zpcipo , nou , ju nou vciI vcI vnl ai mI:n , visIip , slnp visIip ,
b , ou aim sniI , !ognl ,
g+:I , !ognl , ai bcl ju*1 vudnl !ogcl lu I:l j: bicL!osl ,
b , maind j:i oun biznos ,
g , scim lo ju: , m:mI , dju 0ipL ai Lud hv lu: cgz is m:nip , vIv gnl lo gou aul nn
o vizil , o mjuzI:om ai 0ipL , on ju nou ai gcl o bil h:pgiI ,
m , jcs ov L:s mcoiI*2 =

*1 In the exploded version, coalescence is produced /bclju/
*2 According to Collins and Mees
1
(2008, p. 100-1, 104), the 21
st
century pronunciation of / co / is a steady state
vowel - |:|. Upton
2
, (2008, p. 246) states that this same vowel can be heard with a small schwa after it.



1
Collins, B. and I. M. Mees (2008): Practical Phonetics and Phonology. 2
nd
ed. UK: Routledge.
2
Kortmann, B. and C. Upton (ed.) (2008): Varieties of English. The British Isles. Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

2

Breakfast Time

Mother: Stop doing that J ohn! You know your father doesnt like it.
Boy: Stop doing what? Reading the newspaper?
M: Reading the newspaper. No. You know very well what I mean. Whistling. Stop whistling.
B: Oh Im sorry. Forgot.
Girl: Forgot? I bet you wouldnt forget to eat your breakfast.
B: Mind your own business.
G: Same to you. Mummy? Dyou think I could have two eggs this morning? Weve got to go out on a visit.
A museum, I think. And you know I get a bit hungry.
M: Yes of course, Mary.
88 w
Source: Unknown
Dictation 3

, Ln ju mciL o miIjon ,

ci , sou , gio0 , j: gouip lo lcI os , hau lo mciL o miIjon ,
bI: , vcI , lo gou bL lo o bIginip , mm , ai vcnl lo sl:dI gi!iL dIzain ,
u:!lo II:vip sLu:I , ai voz co !o lu: jioz , on vcn ai Ic!l LnIid , ai dIsaidid lo gou n! ,
on sI: o bil ov o v+:Id ,
ci , vco didu gou ,
bI: , vcI o !icnd ov main , gnl o dnb im*1 bioziI , sou ai dIsaidid lo gou on hv o IuL
ol bioziI , on ai hd o v:ndo!I laim , o soujI Iai! , voz lii!iL*2 , on ai mcid o Inl ov
!nlsliL !icndz , s:m ov I:z !icnz*3 , cn dIsaidid lo diaiv :p lo o ju: cs ci =

*1 Regressive assimilation of place.
*2 Elision of schwa.
*3 Elision of / d /.

Can you make a million?

Interviewer: So, Gareth. Youre going to tell us how to make a million.
Gareth: Well, to go back to the beginningmm I went to study graphic design, after leaving school. I
was there for two years, and when I left college, I decided to go off and see a bit of the world.
I: Where did you go?
G: Well a friend of mine got a job in Brazil, so I decided to go and have a look at Brazil. And I had a
wonderful time. The social life was terrific, and I made a lot of fantastic friends. Some of these friends
then decided to drive up to the USA.
112 w
Source: Unknown

Dictation 4

, o lcIo!oun L:I ,

maiL ] hoIou ,
su: ] hoIou ] maiL ] aim iipip ju :p ] lo vij ju o hpI b+:0dci ]
m ] su: ] vnl o !nlsliL sopiaiz ] vcoi o ju !ounip !inm ] ai Ln hio ju sou LIioII ,
ai 0:l ju voi in spcin ]
s ] jcs ] ai m ] on aim hvip o mu:voIos laim hio ]
m ] vnls o vco IaiL ] ils p:iip vi icin hio ]
s ] ou hioi ils bsoIu:lII biIip ] aim Iivip im*1 mai biLI:nI ] on gclip iioII biaun ]
m ] I:LI ju: ] hci ] vcoi o ju iipip !inm ] ai Ln hio pI:pI Iu:!ip on l:Lip ] in o bLgiaund =

*1 Regressive assimilation of place.
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

3

A Telephone Call

Mike: Hello.
Sue: Hello, Mike? Im ringing you up to wish you a happy birthday.
M: Sue! What a fantastic surprise! Where are you phoning from? I can hear you so clearly. I thought you
were in Spain.
S: Yes, I am. And Im having a marvellous time here.
M: Whats the weather like? Its pouring with rain here.
S: Oh here its absolutely boiling. Im living in my bikini and getting really brown.
M: Lucky you! Hey! Where are you ringing from? I can hear people laughing and talking, in the
background.
92 w
Source: Meanings into Words Intermediate by Doff, A., C. J ones and K. Mitchell. UK: CUP. (1983).

Dictation 5

, slodIz pci dci ,
cmiII ] hau m:lj m:nI hov ju gnl nn ju dcin ]
dcin ] nnl m:lj ]
c ] Ln ju Icnd mI o paund ]
d ] vnl !: ]
c ] lo bai sm mciL :p ju nou] !o mai aiz ] ai Ln pci ju bL nn slodI ] ils pci dci ju sI: ]
aiv gnl o nju: dnb ol o su:pomu:Lil ] ai voz I:LI ] o v+:nl mcnI dnbz iaund hio ]
on o Inl ov pI:pI !iom mai sLu:I ] vnnlid is dnb ]
d ] vai did ju: vnnl il ]
c ] lu +:n m:nI o!*1 L:s ] lo bai 0ipz , IaiL ] sI: dI:z ] LIouz ]
d ] hau mcnI a:oz dju v+:L cmiII ]
c ] !iom nain liI !aiv 0+:lI ]
d ] ls cil on o hu:! a:oz ] Lvail o Inl ]
c ] jcs ] bol vI gcl on u: !o I:nlj ] on o L:pI ov lI: biciLs =

*1 The / v / in of is devoiced because it is followed by a / k /. It can be transcribed with / f / though, since it is
preceded by a short vowel (schwa), and of is a function word.

Saturdays Payday

Emily: How much money have you got on you, J ane?
J ane: Not much.
E: Can you lend me a pound?
J : What for?
E: To buy some make-up you know, for my eyes. I can pay you back on Saturday. Its payday you see.
Ive got a new job at the supermarket. I was lucky, there werent many jobs round here. And a lot of
people from my school wanted this job.
J : Why did you want it?
E: To earn money, of course. To buy things like, CDs, clothes
J : How many hours dyou work, Emily?
E: From nine till five thirty.
J : Thats eight and a half hours, quite a lot.
E: Yes, but we get an hour for lunch, and a couple of tea breaks.

119 words
Source: Adapted from Breakaway 2 by Bolton, D. and L. Peterson. UK: Nelson. (1984)

Dictation 6

/ u:sLip o vci /

ci , ou iLsLju:z mI , ai v:ndoi i! ju Lud lcI mI , hau ai gcl lo iivosaid Icin ,
bI: , iivosaid Icin , nau Icl mI sI: , vnls o LviLosl vci , du: ju nou is disliiLl ,
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

4
ci , vcI nou , nnl iioII , ai hvnl bI:n hio !oi o Inp laim ,
bI: , ai sI: , vcI ils Lvail simpI iioII , o bcsl vci , iz lo Lonlinju: v:Lip daun is sliI:l ,
liI ju L:m lo o li!iL Iails ,
ci , o li!iL Iails , jcs ,
bI: , cn l+:n Ic!l , LI:p nn v:Lip !oi obaul !: h:ndiod ju:dz , onliI ju sI: o sain vilj scz ,
sIvcijn u:mI , ju Lu:nl mis il iioII , bILnz oz dcnoioII , o sIvcijn u:mI g+:I slndip
:ndoi il , jciLip o bnLs , on u:sLip !o m:nI =

Asking the Way

A: Oh, excuse me. I wonder if you could tell me how I get to Riverside Lane.
B: Riverside Lane? Now let me see. Whats the quickest way? Do you know this district?
A: Well, no. Not really. I havent been here for a long time.
B: I see. Well, its quite simple, really. The best way is to continue walking down this street, till you come
to the traffic lights.
A: The traffic lights. Yes?
B: Then turn left. Keep on walking for about four hundred yards, until you see a sign which says Salvation
Army. You cant miss it really, because theres generally a salvation army girl standing under it,
shaking a box, and asking for money.
116 w
Source: Unknown
Dictation 7

, LipL:p Lnlid ,

vcncvo lju:zip o haus ouId :pLI !ing ju:s lo sci ] sI: ol oi o pIcnlI ov dmp pljiz nn
o v:Iz ] on i! o iu:! II:Ls ] sou m:lj o bclo
vcn jI hd lo !aind o houm ov hoi oun ] !inljcsLo iImcmbod iz v+:dz
jI icnlid LipL:p Lnlid
LipL:p Lnlid ] vud ov pII:zd :pLI !ing ] il sgd u:zIII om:p liI: iu:ls ] ol I cd ov
hcion IciL ] snciIz ] I:vd il ] on hio !inljcsLo ] Iivd hpiII in:! ] om:p o mu:j
miIgouIdz ] ai hv v:lo Icid nn ] in cviI iu:m jI vud sci ] sou vnl m: Lud ai vnnl =

Kingcup Cottage (From a bed-side story)

Whenever choosing a house, old Uncle Frog used to say, see that there are plenty of damp patches on
the walls. And if the roof leaks, so much the better.
When she had to find a home of her own, Francesca remembered his words. She rented Kingcup
Cottage. Kingcup Cottage would have pleased Uncle Frog. It sagged oozily among tree roots at the edge
of Heron Lake. Snails loved it. And here Francesca lived happily enough among the marsh marigolds.
I have water laid on in every room, she would say, so what more could I want?
99 w
Source: Kingcup Cottage by Racey Helps. London: The Medici Society Limited. (1962)

Dictation 8

, iu:mz on !+:niljo ,

IndIcidI ] !: !: scvn ] !: scvn v:n siLs ]
slju:dnl ] hoIou ] iz l misiz dcivis ]
I ] spI:Lip ]
s ] gud u:!lonu:n ] mai ncimz slI:vn bicnl ] ai voz givn j:i odics ]
bai o slju:dnl oLnmodcijn cidnsI ] ai :ndoslnd ju hv o iu:m lo Icl ]
I ] jcs ] ls iail ] aiv d:sl gnl v:n iu:m ] sliI vciLnl ] ils on liL ium ]
nn o scLnd !I: ] ils iu:o sm:I ] bol aim j: ju:I !aind ils vciI L:m!lobI ]
s ] ai sI: ] on hau m:lj du ju lju:d !:i il ]
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

5
I ] o icnls lvcnlI !aiv paundz ] o vI:L ] l inLIu:dz iIcLliisolI ] bol nnl gs ]
s ] hz o iu:m gnl scnliI hI:lip ]
I ] nou ] ils gnl o gs !aio ] vilj LI:ps o iu:m vciI v:m ]
s ] ai sI: ] on vnl obaul !+:niljo ] il iz !+:nijl ] iznl il ]
I ] ou ] jcs ] oz o divn bcd in o L:no ] vi o nju: mlios nn il ] Icl mI sI: ]
oz o sm:I v:dioub ] on u:mljco ] o Ln!I lcibI ] o buLjcI! ]
s ] iz oi o dcsL ]
I ] jcs ] oz v:n :ndo o vindou =

Rooms and Furniture

Mrs. Davis: Four four seven, four seven one six.
Student: Hello. Is that Mrs. Davis?
Mrs. D: Speaking.
S: Good afternoon, my names Stephen Brent. I was given your address by the Student Accomodation
Agency. I understand you have a room to let.
Mrs. D: Yes, thats right. Ive just got one room still vacant. Its an attic room, on the second floor. Its
rather small, but Im sure youll find its very comfortable.
S: I see. And how much do you charge for it?
Mrs. D: The rents 25 pounds a week. That includes electricity, but not gas.
S: Has the room got central heating?
Mrs. D: No, its got a gas fire, which keeps the room very warm.
S: I see. And what about furniture? It is furnished, isnt it?
Mrs. D: Oh, yes. Theres a divan bed in the corner, with a new mattress on it. Let me see theres a small
wardrobe, an armchair, a coffee table, a bookshelf
S: Is there a desk?
Mrs. D: Yes, theres one under the window.
167 w
Source: Meanings into Words Intermediate by Doff, A., C. J ones and K. Mitchell. UK: CUP. (1983).

Dictation 9

, pInip o pu:lI ,
ci , vcI ls sclId cn , iz il ,
bI: , vnls sclId ,
ci , o pu:lI ,
bI: , vnl pu:lI ,
ci , ou L:m nn , slnp !u:Iip oiaund , o pu:lI vIo gouip lo giv lonail , lo scIobicil I cnd
ov igzmincijnz ,
bI: , jcs , o! L:s , vcoi o o g+:Iz bai o vci , ci jud bI hioi cnI moumonl nau ,
ci , civ bin*1 aul jnpip :I m:nip ,
bI: , ai houp ci hvnl spcnl o Inl ov m:nI ,
ci , IuL , ju Lu:nl giv o pu:lI , viaul spcndip m:nI ,
bI: , aim nnl l:Lip obaul m:nI , aim l:Lip obaul o Inl ov m:nI ,
ci , il d:znl hpn cviI dci , u: , hio ci u: ,
sI: , jcs , hio vI u: , vi s:m ov o 0ipz , o icsl o daunslcoz , pohps v:n ov ju vud IaiL
lo !clj om :p ,
dI: , ou lnm , pII:z , hcIp mI vi I:z , viI ju =
lnm , : iail , aiI gou daun on biip o icsl =
*1 Second entry.
Planning a Party
A: Well, thats settled then. Is it?
B: Whats settled?
A: The party.
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

6
B: What party?
A: Oh, come on. Stop fooling around. The party were going to give tonight, to celebrate the end of
examinations.
B: Yes, of course. Where are the girls by the way? They should be here any moment now.
A: Theyve been out shopping all morning.
B: I hope they havent spend a lot of money.
A: Look, you cant give a party, without spending money.
B: Im not talking about money, Im talking about a lot of money.
A: It doesnt happen every day. Ah! Here they are.
C: Yes, here we are, with some of the things. The rest are downstairs. Perhaps one of you would like to
fetch them up.
D: Oh, Tom. Please, help me with these, will you?
Tom: All right, Ill go down and bring the rest.
138 w
Source: Unknown
Dictation 10

, on invcsligcijn ,

Iu:sl nail ] ol nain cilI:n ] o diicLloi ov o sLu:I ] voz v:Lip !iom hiz n!is lo hiz
Lu: ] vcn hI voz olLl ] !iom bohaind ] I olLo ] hil o diicLloi nn o hcd ]
o poII:s ] 0ipL I olLo voz o slju:dnl ] mcibI o g+:I slju:dnl ] o poII:s o gouip
lu inlovju: ] cviI slju:dnl in o sLu:I ]
o poII:smon inlovju:d o diicLlo ] ol o hnspilI Iu:sl nail ]
poII:smon ] nau mislo snou ] vnl Ln ju iImcmboi obaul I olL ]
mislo snou ] vcI ] ai voz v+:Lip Icil jcslodI I:vnip ]
p ] vnl laim didu II:v I n!is ]
s ] obaul Lv:lo pu:sl nain ]
p ] u: ju j: ]
s ] ou jcs ] ai IuLl ol mai vnlj ]
p ] vnl didu du: cn ]
s ] vcI ] ai InLl o d: ] on ai voz v:Lip lo mai Lu: ] vcn s:mbodI hil mI nn o hcd ]
p ] didu sI: I olLo ]
s ] nou ] hI voz vcoiip o slnLip ] ouvo hiz hcd ]
p ] lcI mI mislo snou ] hau did ju biciL j: Icg ]
s ] vcI ] vcn ci vo pulip mI inlo I mbjuIons ] ci dinpl mI =

An Investigation

Last night, at 9.18, the director of a school, was walking from his office to his car, when he was attacked
from behind. The attacker hit the director on the head. The police think the attacker was a student, maybe
a girl student. The police are going to interview every student in the school.
A policeman interviewed the director, at the hospital last night.
P: Now Mr. Snow, what can you remember about the attack?
Mr. S: Well, I was working late yesterday evening.
P: What time did you leave the office?
Mr. S: About quarter past nine.
P: Are you sure?
Mr. S: Oh, yes. I looked at my watch.
P: What did you do then?
S: Well, I locked the door, and I was walking to my car, when somebody hit me on the head.
P: Did you see the attacker?
Mr. S: No, he was wearing a stocking over his head.
P: Tell me Mr. Snow. How did you break your leg?
Mr. S: Well, when they were putting me into the ambulance, they dropped me.
Ph I Dictations for HW Set 2 Key & Ord sp Compiled and recorded by Prof. Cinthia P. Smith 2011

7
171 w
Source: Streamline English Departures by Hartley B. and P. Viney. UK: Oxford University Press. (1979)
Unit 56.