Turn up your MP3 player so you can learn how to talk about sound and volume in English.
Slow dialogue: 1:00
Explanations: 2:33
Fast dialogue: 14:24
Delilah: Could you turn that down?
Josh: What?
Delilah: Could you turn your music down?
Josh: Oh, sure. Is there a problem?
Delilah: No, there’s no problem. I was just trying to do some reading and the ear-splitting music coming from your room made it hard to concentrate.
Josh: Sorry. I didn’t think it was that loud. I didn’t turn it up, I swear. The volume control is in the same place it always is, not one decibel higher.
Delilah: That may be true, but those high-pitched squeals coming out of your speakers are really grating. And what was that banging sound?
Josh: Oh, I was just using this hammer to fix my chair. I’m done.
Delilah: And what was that thumping noise?
Josh: Thumping noise? Oh, I was lifting weights and dropping them back down on the floor.
Delilah: I see. If you could please keep the volume to a moderate level, I would appreciate it.
Josh: No problem. I’ll be as quiet as a mouse – as I always am.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse