Universidad Arturo MichelenaFacultad de Humanidades, Letras y Arte Escuela de Idiomas Modernos Oral III Material Compilado por: Prof. Mariela Pinto Sequera STRESS STRESS is the degree of force or loudness with which syllables are spoken in English. English is a stress-timed language. That is, stressed syllables appear at a roughly steady tempo (approximately fixed tempo), and non-stressed syllables are shortened to accommodate this. MICE EAT The MICE EAT The MICE will have EATen The MICE might have been EATing CHEESE. the CHEESE. the CHEESE. the CHEESE. Stressed syllables in English are louder than non-stressed syllables, as well as being longer and having a higher pitch. Ordinarily, grammatical or function words do not receive stress, whereas content or lexical words must have at least one stressed syllable. Word stress in English Word Stress is phonemic in English, this is the movement of stress in a word from one position to another changes the meaning of the word. For example, the words desert /'dezərt/ and dessert /dɪ'zɝːt/ are distinguished by stress, as are the noun a record /'rek.ɔːrd/ and the verb to record /rɪ'kɔːrd/. Word Stress in English is the magic key to understanding spoken English. Native speakers of English use word stress naturally. Word stress is so natural for them that they do not even know they use it. Non-native speakers, who speak English to native speakers without using word stress, encounter two problems: 1. They find it difficult to understand native speakers, especially those speaking fast. 2. The native speakers may find it difficult to understand them. To understand word stress helps to understand what syllable is. Every word is made from syllables. Each word has one, two, three or more syllables. Some languages. 2. even in difficult conditions. rules that can help you understand where to put the stress. Two stresses cannot be one word. you do not hear a word clearly. aBOVE. imPORtant. INteresting. All the syllables are stressed in the first sentence. we say one syllable very loudly (big. Big black dogs chase small white cats 2. Rules of word stress in English In English. JaPAN. Every language has its own rhythm. Other languages. We accentuate ONE syllable. rather complicated. Here are some more. this is. you can still understand the word because of the position of the stress. pronounce each syllable with eq-ual em-pha-sis. If you use word stress in your speech.Importance of word stress Word stress is not used in all languages. But a secondary stress is smaller than the primary. Do they sound the same when spoken? No. CHINa. This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables: TEACHer. deMAND. use word stress. because there are . you hear two words. It is true that there can be a “secondary” stress in some words. photographer and photographic. Let‟s take 3 words: photograph. There are three very simple rules about word stress: 1. Look at the two sentences below: Which sounds more natural in English? Why? 1. If you hear two stresses. etCETera. but not the weak syllables. One word has only one stress. important) and all the other syllables remain very quietly. and the reason is that it has an alternation of stressed and unstressed syllable. for example. converSAtion. We can only stress vowels. and it is not always the same syllable. Japanese or French for example. But do not rely on them too much. and it‟s only used in long words). It is part of the language! English speakers use word stress to communicate rapidly and accurately. The syllables that are not stressed are weak or small or quiet. English for example. If. not consonants. strong. A big black dog is chasing a little cat The answer is number two. (One word cannot have two stresses. you will instantly and automatically improve your pronunciation and your comprehension. we do not say each syllable with the same force or strength in one word. Native speakers of English listen carefully for the STRESSED syllables. Word stress is not an optional extra that you can add to the English language if you want. because we stress ONE syllable in each word. Word Stress General Tendencies 1. aDDItional. ACtion -sion: PAssion. laGOON. TENsion. Listen carefully to spoken English and try to develop a feeling for the “music” of the language. GREENhouse. believe 3. overFLOW. conSIStency. FOOTball. Probably the best way to learn is from experience. A word cannot start with two unstressed syllables. BAsic -tion: reveLAtion. beGIN. bruTAlity. EXCEPTIONS: hoTEL. Two-syllable nouns and adjectives (stress on the first syllable) SUSpect. UNderworld Compound adjectives (stress on the second part): bad-TEMpered. well-KNOWN Compound verbs (stress on the second part): underSTAND. OPtional. Two-syllable verbs (stress on the second syllable) susPECT. Exception: proPOsal 5. exPLAIN. tranQUIlity. TAble. baLOON. old-FAshioned. aPOlogy -al: CRItical. Apple. Stress on penultimate syllable Words ending in: -ic: geoGRAphic.many exceptions. caREER. 3. 2. acCEPT. PREsent. autoMAtic. write DOWN. inSULT. HAppy. teleVIsion* * Some people stress the first syllable TElevision 4. simuLAtion. cliMAtic. CLEver. preSENT. eCOlogy. opeRAtion. JaPAN. Stress on the ante-penultimate syllable Words ending in: -cy: deMOcracy. Agency -ty: aBIlity. INsult. look OVER . poLICE. elecTRIcity -phy: phoTOgraphy. Compound words Compound nouns (stress on the first part): BLACKbird. phiLOsophy -gy: geOlogy. biOgraphy. COffee. proMOtion. adMIssion. geoLOgical. good-LOOKing. deCIDE. shamPOO. Degrees of Stress When words are said in isolation. Stress Functions Stress has both “referential” and “differential” functions. TERTIARY STRESS ( . a higher pitch and are longer. And some others add another degree of stress. DO NOT FREAK OUT! Trust your ears and remember there are different approaches for this. Some use the word „unstressed‟ or „zero‟ to refer to weak stress. there are usually four different types of stressed used: 1. university LOOK! Modern dictionaries use the IPA stressing: primary stress ( ' ) before the stressed syllable and secondary stress ( ˌ ) in long words (4 or more syllables) that have another high pitch of voice but not as higher as the primary stressed syllable. Depending on the source you use to identify the types of stress on stress patterns. you will see that their names are different. They do not place tertiary nor weak stress. Unstressed syllables don't have a high pitch and are shorter. . Hence. PRIMARY STRESS ( / ) → Carried by the clear/full vowel sound with the highest pitch 2. The arrangement of the stress on the syllables of a word is called STRESS PATTERN / . . apple / cat __ . the best ways to understand. the tertiary stress to refer to those syllables that do not carry a primary or a secondary stress but are pronounced with full vowels.) → Carried by a clear/full vowel that has no stress but cannot be reduced 4. ) → Carried by the weak/unstressed vowel sound within the word. 3. The Referential stress indicates the way in which each syllable in a word is pronounced. Stressed syllables have clear vowels. WEAK STRESS ( . SECONDARY STRESS ( __ ) → Carried by the clear/full vowel that does not have the primary stress. which means it can only be found before the primary stress. identify and use stress appropriately are speaking and listening. The Differential stress indicates the difference between two words that are similar but belong to different grammatical categories. It‟s Pre-Tonic. This stress is only seen in long words (4 or more syllables) or compounds. / . retake. misprint out-: out-sing. agreement _or: actor. membership _able: taxable. devilish _less: powerless. reread sub-: subeditor. comfortable _al: proposal. thoughtful _hood /hʊd/: sisterhood. Neutral suffixes: they don‟t affect the stress pattern of the stem and carry weak stress _en: widen. illness _some: lonesome. with different meaning (sometimes) and grammatical category. bimonthly de-: defrost. bi-: bilingual. reporter _ful: cheerful. Neutral Prefixes: They do not interfere with the stress pattern of the stem. sunny These suffixes receive tertiary stress because the diphthong /aɪ/ cannot be reduced to /ə/: _wise: otherwise. unlikely un-: (v : v) unlock. undertake up-: upgrade. overdo. Suffixes A suffix is a particle added to the end of a stem deriving a new word. disagree ex-: ex-president. prepay pro-: pro-British. outdo over-: overtake. Suffixes affect stress in one of three ways: 1. authorize/ _ise (BrE): organise.Prefixes A prefix is a particle added to the beginning of a stem changing its meaning. dukedom _ess: hostess. mistress _ist: humanist. authorise . In this case. subculture un-: (adj: adj) unnatural. substandard. likewise _ize (AmE): organize. uphold An exception to the general pattern (secondary on the prefix + primary on the stem) occurs when a prefixed word functions as a noun. amazing _ish: tarnish. shorten _er: teacher. gruesome _y: funny. optional _dom: boredom. pro-Catholic re-: rewrite. unbutton under-: undercover. aggressively _ship: scholarship. brotherhood _ing: opening. mishear. They bear secondary stress. having the same pattern as a noun compound. ex-lover mis-: misunderstand. overshadow pre-: presuppose. fearless _ly: happily. moderator _ness: tenderness. the prefix tends to carry primary stress and the noun receives tertiary stress. de-stress dis-: dislike. communist _ment: development. millionaire*. pioneer _eur: entrepreneur. humoresque. _ian. _ial. journalese. advanTAgeous _graphy: PHOto. _eous: adVANntage. they are pronounced with /iə/ or /jə/: aluminium (BrE)/ aluminum (AmE). Suffixes that receive stress: they receive the primary stress. questionnaire. masquerade. unique _ette: vinaigrette. tranQUIlity Suffixes with the “iV” sequence (“I” + Vowel “a. When these suffixes are preceded by an alveo-palatal consonant. chanteuse _ese: Portuguese. they are pronounced with unstressed schwa: Institution. volunteer. _ious. chauffeur* _euse: masseuse. marmalade. Check their phonetic transcriptions in BrE and AmE. Sagittarius. Chromium. Taiwanese _ain: entertain. they affect the stress pattern of the stem _aire: doctrinaire. brunette. Polynesia. escapade* *these words are sometimes pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable. television. Indonesia. Romanesque _oon: balloon. ecoLOgical _ity: TRANquil. chimpanzee. . cliMAtic _ical: eCOlogy. When preceded by other consonants. cigarette* _eer: engineer. _ium. tycoon _ee: employee. ascertain _et /eɪ/: buffet.2. _ion. etc. Shift stress: the primary stress shifts to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix. ambitious. option. bouquet*. _ius. hence. solitaire* _esque: picturesque. initial. valet* _ade: lemonade. lagoon. silhouette. pictorial. phoTOgraphy _ic: CLImate. technique. 3. Asian. o. Japanese. pedigree. coiffeur. u”) _ia. addressee _ique: boutique. typhoon. ballet*. Differential Stress 1.Verb: reCORD Noun / Adjective Verb / • Present Permit Project Conflict Subject Suspect Object Rebel Desert Frequent • / Present Permit Project Conflict Subject Suspect Object Rebel Desert Frequent / Insult Contract Export Combine Perfect Protest Insult Contract Export Combine Perfect Protest In the list below. Noun: REcord . the stress pattern is the same for both nouns and verbs • / Exchange Express Command Control Delay Remark Surprise Support / • Comfort Comment Contact Promise Program . rugged. wicked. and verbs follow the rules for the regular past tense and past participle. even when there is an adjective with no corresponding verb. Adjective: graduate /ˈɡrædʒuət/ . the adjective is still pronounced /ɪd/: naked. . and tertiary-stressed in verbs and pronounced /eɪt/ Word Adjective Verb Advocate Aggregate Alternate Animate Approximate Deliberate Delegate Duplicate Elaborate Estimate Intimate Legitimate Moderate Precipitate Separate The –ed ending of adjectives sometimes have an extra syllable pronounced /ɪd/. etc.2. Word Adjective Verb Blessed Beloved Learned Dogged Legged Sometimes. crooked.Verb: graduate /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/ The –ate ending is weak-stressed in adjectives and pronounced /ət/. They are pronounced as a unit.3. They are used and pronounced as a single word.Adjective + Noun: white HOUSE A compound noun occurs when two words come together to form a new word. Compound Noun: WHITE house . Compound Noun Adjective + Noun / Darkroom __ / Dark room Greenhouse Green house Bluebird Blue bird Lighthouse Light house Cheapskates Cheap skates Longboat Long boat Hardball Hard ball Sweetbread Sweet bread Blackbird Black bird !!! Practice transcriptions and look for the meanings of these compound nouns and phrasal verbs 4.Noun: MAKE-up A phrasal verb consists of a verb in combination with an adverb. a preposition. Phrasal verb: turned UP/ Adjective: TURNED up Phrasal verb: make UP . or both. Noun / Adjective Phrasal verb / Takeoff Lookout Checkup Dropout Checkout Run-down Runoff __ / Take off Look out Check up Drop out Check out Run down Run off /• Getaway Takeaway Runaway Runabout __ • / Get away Take away Run away Run about . Stress will vary between compound nouns and words that look like compound nouns but are functioning as adjectives modifying nouns. then you should include weak stress to the pattern.MORE EXAMPLES FOR PRACTICING -Transcribe and write the stress patternCompounds Compound Nouns: Hot dog Butter knife Blueberry Reception desk Heavyweight Drama teacher Birdcage Tomato sauce Crossword Policeman Mailbox Paper plates Footprint Chocolate cake Apple pie Compound Adjectives: Depending on their location in a sentence. seem. Make sentences as in the example: 1. the stress pattern will change. If the compound adjective has more than two syllables. look. after a linking verb „be. Attributive adjectives (before the noun) are „Primary – tertiary‟ stressed (/ -). Attributive adjective: A good-looking man 2. Predicative adjective: That man is good-looking (/ . taste‟) are „Secondary – primary‟ stressed (__ /).•) ( __ / •) Adjective Cold-blooded Secondhand Middle-aged Bad-tempered Well-trained Part-time Old-fashioned Narrow-minded Never-ending Long-lasting Ice-cold Fat-free Midlife Worldwide . and Predicative adjectives (separated from the noun. in. (2013). off. behind. Venezuela Cardenas. Y. (2010). M. A. Universidad de Carabobo. Fang. Get in Come in Laugh at Look for Sit down Get along Turn away Look at Think about Take care of Do over Run out of Put aside Get along with Ask for Keep up with Wake up Look forward to Turn off Get out of References: Allegra. Retrieved from http://seas3. The most common adverbial particles are: across. English Phonological analysis – Chapter 6: Word Stress. Eötvös Loránd University. Kukanauza. over. Stress.pdf from . J. of. for. under and up.elte.. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Venezuela.html Zapata. (2006). Retrieved http://webdelprofesor. Stress and Rhythm. Phrasal verbs consisting of three elements have primary stress on the second element. Peru Celce-Murcia. on. Teaching Pronunciation: A Course Book and Reference Guide.hu/phono-analysis/book. to and with. Universidad de los Andes. (2009). down. The most common prepositions are: about. secondary stress on the first element and the third element carries weak stress (reduced vowel on the preposition). Hungary. USA. P. Cambridge University Press. M.ula. back. away. and the preposition carries a tertiary stress. at. Phrasal verbs that follow the verb + preposition combination have primary stress on the first element. Fonética y Fonología del Inglés II.. from. along. ahead.Phrasal Verbs Phrasal verbs that follow the verb + adverb combination have secondary stress on the first element and primary stress on the second element. M. (2009). Törkenczy. 2nd edition.ve/humanidades/azapata/materias/phonetics_1/stress_and_rhythm.