Pronunciation: Stress

Elsa Morocho C.

Pronunciation: Stress

• Every word is made from syllables.Each word has one, two, three or more syllables.

• In words with multiple syllables, one syllable is stressed. Stressed syllables sound longer than unstressed syllables. They are also louder in higher in pitch than unstressed syllables.

Examples of words with their number of syllables

• Cat one syllable• Green one syllable• traffic two syllables• Orange two syllables• Expensive three syllables• Computer three syllables

What is Word Stress?

In English, we do not say each syllable with the same force or strength. In one word, we accentuate ONE syllable. We say one syllable very loudly (big, strong, important) and all the other syllables very quietly.

Example

• PHO TO GRAPH• PHO TO GRAPH ER• PHO TO GRAPHIC

This happens in ALL words with 2 or more syllables: TEACHer, JaPAN, CHINa, aBOVE, converSAtion, INteresting, imPORtant, deMAND, etCETera.

• The syllables that are not stressed are weak or small or quiet.

USEFUL LINKS FOR PRACTICE

http://www.englishmedialab.com/pronunciation/pronunciation%201.htmhttp://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/articles/word-stress

GRACIAS