4/27/13 Correct word stress in English

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Word stress in English

Word stress in English can seem tobe a very complicated issue.Where do we put the accent onmulti-syllable words in English?English people don't often makemistakes, but they never learn anyrules! Obviously therefore theremust be some fairly simple basic"rules" that apply .

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Word stress in English

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SIX BASIC RULESto help you place the tonic accent on multi-syllable words in English.

These rules do not cover all the aspects of word stress in English; but they docover the large majority of plurisyllabic words in the language.

The problem: should you say: difficult or difficult or difficult?Here are the main principles that determine how words are stressed or accentuated inEnglish.

1. A word is normally stressed on the first syllable , unless there is a reasonto put the stress somewhere else.

2. The "reasons" are either suffixes (like -ity or -ion) or prefixes (like con-, dis-,ex- or in-).

3. If the suffix (ending) starts with the letters i or u this will affect the position ofstress in a word. Sample suffixes: -ion, -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc. The stress comes on the syllable before the suffix. Examples: Atlantic, comic, sufficient, explanation, residual.There are only a very few exceptions to this rule.

4. Other suffixes do not affect the stress of a word.Sample suffixes: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ment Examples: Permanent, permanently, develop, development

5. ► Prefixes are not normally stressed in two-syllable words, except in some

nouns or adjectives. Examples: To ex'pand, to de'fend; but an 'expert, a report. Bisyllabic nouns starting with a prefix need to be learned individually.

► Prefixes are usually stressed in three-syllable nouns and adjectives, butnot always stressed in verbs.Examples: 'Continent, 'incident, 'exercise; to con'sider, to en'visage but to 'indicate (All three syllable verbs ending in -ate are stressed on the first syllable).

6. Rule 3 takes priority over all others, notably when a "rule 3 ending" is followedby a "rule 4 ending", Examples : perpetually, deliciously, conditional, conditioner, illusionist.

This list of rules is not complete, but it does explain where to place themain accent in the majority of words in English.

Can you designate the tonic syllable (main stress) in these words which all obey the rules?

Britain, England, Edinburgh, region, regional, economic, to complain, community, torefuse, considering.

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