018 - Word Stress

Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2014

Word Stress Due to rhythmical reasons, the vowels in Spanish and English words behave in a different way. Thus, it is important for Spanish speakers to focus on some strong tendencies which will better their performance in English. Let us compare the Spanish word ‘entretenido’  and  and its English counterpart ‘entertaining’ . In Spanish, the stress pattern is

Entretenido ˆˆˆ˜ˆ Zdms3dsd!mhCn\ The English pattern is uite different. There is a very strong syllable before the primary stress which should not be overlooked. A stress, be it primary or secondary, requires a strong vowel.

Entertaining ˜ˆ˜ˆ Z$dms?!sdHmHM\ !not "Z?ms?!sdHmHM\ #

The Teutonic Rule The Teutonic $ule asks for an obligatory stress in either the first or the second syllable, i.e., there cannot be two initial unstressed syllables in English. This is challenging for Spanish speakers, whose language allows several unstressed initial syllables.

˜ˆ Garden  .!f@9cm.

Person  .!o29rm.

Using  .!it9yHM.

ˆ˜ Believe  .aH!kh9u.

Decide  .cH!r`Hc.

Result  .qH!yks.

%hat happens with longer words& 'irst of all, spot the primary stress. If it is neither on the first or second syllable, we need to find the secondary stress. The ne(t two rules come to our rescue)

The Rule of Alternation The $ule of *lternation comes in handy at this stage. It can help the learner to predict the stressed syllables in a polysyllabic word. There is a strong tendency to alternate strong and weak syllables , so if the primary stress falls on the third syllable, the first one is likely to bear a secondary stress. +onversely, if the primary stress falls on the fourth syllable, it is the second one that is likely to carry the secondary stress. e on the alert- there are several e(ceptions)

˜ˆ˜ˆ ˆ˜ˆ˜

University .$it9mH!u29r?sh.

Conversation .$"mu?!rdH#m.

Adolescence .$c?k!drmr.

Demonstration .$cd%?m!rsqdH#m.

Pronunciation .oq?$mmrh!dH#m.

Abbreviation .?$aqh9uh!dH#m.

Enthusiastic .Hm$&it9yh!rsH.

Evaluation .H$ukt!dH#m.

The Rule of erivation The $ule of Derivation can help you spot the secondary stress of a word. any English words are derived from other words. If the primary stress is moved more than one syllable when an affi( is added, the stressed syllable in the original word may be likely to become a secondary stress-

Pronounce .oq?!m`'mr. Generous .!c(dmq?r.

Pronunciation .oq?$mmrh!dH#m. Generosity .$c(dm?!q"r?sh.