Two-syllable words

In the case of simple two-syllable words, either the first or the second syllable will be stressed - not both. There is a general tendency for verbs to be stressed nearer the end of a word and for nouns to be stressed nearer the beginning. We will look first at verbs. If the final syllable is weak, then the first syllable is stressed. Thus:

'enter' 'entə

'envy' 'envi

'open' 'əʊpən

'equal' 'i:kwəl

 

A final syllable is also unstressed if it contains au (e.g. 'follow' 'fɒləu, 'borrow' 'bɒrəʊ).

If the final syllable is strong, then that syllable is stressed even if the first syllable is also strong. Thus:

'apply' ə'plaɪ

'arrive' ə'raɪv

'attract' ə'traekt

'assist' ə'sɪst

'rotate' rəʊ'teɪt

'maintain' meɪn'teɪn

 

Two-syllable simple adjectives are stressed according to the same rule, giving:

'lovely' 'lΛvli

'even' 'i:vən

'hollow' 'hnləʊ

'divine' dɪ'vaɪn

'correct' kə'rekt

'alive' ə'laɪv

 

As with most stress rules, there are exceptions; for example: 'honest' 'ɒnist, 'perfect' 'pз:fɪkt, both of which end with strong syllables but are stressed on the first syllable.

 

Nouns require a different rule: stress will fall on the first syllable unless the first syllable is weak and the second syllable is strong. Thus:

'money''mɒni

'product' 'prɒdΛkt

'larynx' 'laerɪŋks

'divan' dɪ'væn

'balloon' bə'lu:n

'design' dɪ'zaɪn

Other two-syllable words such as adverbs seem to behave like verbs and adjectives. Three-syllable words

 

Here we find a more complicated picture. One problem is the difficulty of identifying three-syllable words which are indisputably simple. In simple verbs, if the final syllable is strong, then it will receive primary stress. Thus:

'entertain' ,entə'teɪn 'resurrect' ,rezə'rekt

 

If the last syllable is weak, then it will be unstressed, and stress will be placed on the preceding (penultimate) syllable if that syllable is strong. Thus:

'encounter' ɪŋ'kauntə  'determine 'dɪ'tз:mɪn

 

If both the second and third syllables are weak, then the stress falls on the initial syllable:

'parody' 'pærədi                 'monitor' 'mɒnɪtə

 

Nouns require a slightly different rule. The general tendency is for stress to fall on the first syllable unless it is weak. Thus:

'quantity' 'kwɒntəti

'custody' 'kɑʃtədi

'emperor' 'empərə

'enmity' 'enməti

 

However, in words with a weak first syllable the stress comes on the next syllable:

'mimosa'mɪ'məʊzə  

'disaster' dɪ'zɑ:stə

'potato' pə'teɪtəʊ

'synopsis' sɪ'nɒpsɪs

 

When a three-syllable noun has a strong final syllable, that syllable will not usually receive the main stress:

'intellect' 'intəlekt

'alkali' 'ælkəlaɪ

'marigold' 'mærɪgəʊld

'stalactite' 'stæləktaɪt

 

Adjectives seem to need the same rule, to produce stress patterns such as:

'opportune' 'ɒpətju:n  

'derelict' 'derəlɪkt

'insolent' 'ɪnsələnt  

'anthropoid' 'ænθrəpɔɪd

The above rules certainly do not cover all English words. They apply only to major categories of lexical words (nouns, verbs and adjectives), not to function words such as articles and prepositions. There is not enough space in this course to deal with simple words of more than three syllables, nor with special cases of loan words (words brought into the language from other languages comparatively recently). One problem that we must also leave is the fact that there are many cases of English words with alternative possible stress patterns (e.g. 'controversy' as either 'kɒntrəvз:si or kən'trnvəsi). Other words - which we will look at in studying connected speech - change their stress pattern according to the context they occur in. Above all, there is not space to discuss the many exceptions to the above rules. Despite the exceptions, it seems better to attempt to produce some stress rules (even if they are rather crude and inaccurate) than to claim that there is no rule or regularity in English word stress.

الاكثر قراءة في Phonetics and Phonology

Weak forms

The accentual function of intonation Functions of intonation

Assimilation

The attitudinal function of intonation

Diphthongs

The discourse function of intonation

Fortis consonants

The grammatical function of intonation

Two-syllable words

Strong and weak syllables

Rhythm

Functions of intonation

Elision

Varieties of English pronunciation The study of variety

Triphthongs

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

العتبة العباسية المقدسة: نهج البلاغة مصدر صافٍ للفكر والمعرفة ومحصِّنٌ من الشبهات

العتبة العباسية المقدسة تطلق محاضرات محفل نهج البلاغة الأسبوعي في ذي قار

العتبتان المقدستان الحسينية والعباسية تدعوان للمشاركة في مهرجان الشموع بنسخته السادسة والعشرين

بالتعاون مع مستشفى الكفيل.. قسم الشؤون الطبّية يواصل إقامة البرنامج التدريبي لملاكاته النسوية

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

الصحة العالمية تكشف حقيقة انتشار فيروس نيباه خارج الهند

متى يصبح محيط الخصر "مؤشر خطر"؟

دراسة تكشف دور "العوامل الوراثية" في تحديد عمر الإنسان

رائحة كريهة في الجسم.. "علامة خفية" أخطر مما تتصور

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

مايكروسوفت تكشف عن الجيل الثاني من شرائحها للذكاء الاصطناعي

خرافة "ثمانية أكواب يوميا".. كم من الماء يحتاج جسمك فعليا؟

هل توجد حياة خارج كوكبنا؟.. اكتشاف جديد يثير اهتمام العلماء

اكتشاف الخلايا المسؤولة عن فقدان ذاكرة الطفولة

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

Style

Social and class differences

Sources of variation Age

Scottish

American

Geographical variation

Varieties of English pronunciation The study of variety

Functions of intonation Conclusions

The discourse function of intonation

The grammatical function of intonation

The accentual function of intonation Functions of intonation

Expressing attitudes