ðə sˌɜː slˈæʃ sˈɜːɹə dɪstˈɪŋkʃən wʌz jˈuːzd tə dᵻmˈɑːɹk ɹˈɛlətˌɪv stˈæɾəs ænd ðə vˈɛɹiəs pɑːɹtˈɪsɪpənts wɜːɹ əblˈaɪdʒd tʊ ɪntˈɜːpɹɪt ðɛɹ skɹˈɪpt baɪ tʃˈuːzɪŋ ɐn ɪmˈoʊʃən sᵻlˈɛktᵻd fɹʌm ɐ wˈaɪd ɹˈeɪndʒ kˈɑːnfɪdəns, ˈæɹəɡəns, fˈɪɹ, əfˈɛns, sɚpɹˈaɪz, ɛtsˈɛtɹə.
The sir/sirrah distinction was used to demark relative status and the various participants were obliged to interpret their script by choosing an emotion selected from a wide range – confidence, arrogance, fear, offence, surprise, etc.