WORD STRESS

Observing good rhythm is one prerequisite in achieving a

smooth oral communication. Rhythm is an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak stresses or the recurrence of

stressed and unstressed syllables in a word or

components.

Stress is the emphasis or force given to a syllable or syllables in a

word or a phrase as it is pronounced. Stress is usually

symbolized by [ ‘ ] being placed on the syllable intended to be

emphasized or pronounced more audibly than the rest of the syllables

in the word or phrase.

Although stress can be classified into major (primary and secondary) minor

(tertiary and weak), the primary stress is considered the stress that is always

present in a word, except for a monosyllabic words. This is the strongest

stress and once one knows which syllable or component receives it, he is sure to be able to pronounced the word

correctly.

There are words that are when given a different stress or emphasize on the different

syllables will convey a different meaning. Consider the word object- if it is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable as in OBject, the word means a thing. If it is the second syllable to get the emphasis as in

obJECT, the word means not to agree to/with. Notice too, that in cases like this, the word that received the primary stress on the first

syllable is a noun, and the word that received the primary stress on the second syllable is a

verb.

Read the following words with correct stress.

NOUN Produce

Defect

Present

Conduct

Contest

Record

Permit

Insult

process

VERB Produce

Defect

Present

Conduct

Contest

Record

Permit

Insult

process

SIMPLE RULES ON WORD STRESS

1. Stress the suffix itself.

ee

eer

ese

employee, refugee

career, engineer

Japanese, Cantonese

2. Stress the syllable immediately before suffixes like:

-ic

-ical

-ity

-sion,-tion

-tious,-cious

-ual, -ial

-logy

-graphy

-meter

heroic, symbiotic

geological, biological, logical

identity, personality

commission, contrition

cautious, luscious

continual, congenital

biology, ideology

photography, orthography

kilometer, centimeter

3. For compound nouns, stress the first component(first word) doorknob

tablespoon

roofdeck

scoreboard

lampshade

staircase

windmill

ballpen

hairpin

manhole

classroom

bookshelf

pillbox

penthouse

rainbow

rooftop

pinwheel

courseware

hairnets

blackboard

bookrack

classmate

4. Compound verbs have a primary stress on the second component

understand

overlook

undergo

undertake

oversleep

overtake

Three-syllable words with the primary stress on the first syllable

123

amulet polisher gallantryarrogant decibel

coroner violet avalanche arbitercaliber

palpable anarchy difficultportable condiment

benefit deficit flammable bigotrypersonnel

5. Numbers ending in –teen receives the primary stress on the –teen syllables; numbers ending in –ty receives the stress n the first syllable fourteen forty sixteen sixty fifteen fifty eighteen eighty

6. Most words with two syllables are stressed on the first syllable.

window mother

closet father

ladder baby

ceiling movement

clothing candy

children honey

balance noodles

table pasta

teacher market

7. Reflexive pronouns are stressed on the second syllable/component.(-self) himself

herself

yourself

themself

Two-syllable words stressed on the first syllable.

1 2

actor carbon essence

logic chaos waffle

clothing sterile folder

village closet jewel

drastic organ

hamper magic

charcoal baggage

timber color

Two-syllable words stressed on the second syllable

conceal directoblique

collage dessert oppose

assent disclose

bestow reveal

corsage event

abrupt dissent

surreal reprint

proclaim revise

avoid enthuse

Three syllable word with the primary stress on the second syllable

123

arrival connivance conjectureconsortium commercial

monarchial aroma continuousambitious completion

defective imperfect personacoercion insomia

Three syllable word with the primary stress on the third or final syllable

123

understand warranty lemonade jamboree

conjugate overthrow undermine impolite

four syllable word with the primary stress on the first syllable

1234

adversary commentary incandescenttemporarily

aviary mortuary oligarchymandatory

four syllable word with the primary stress on the second syllable

1234

congressional biology histologyferocity

belligerent impeccable transferablecommendable

ambivalent conditioner injectable

four syllable word with the primary stress on the third syllable

1234

obligation anarchism machinationcharismatic

accidental manufacture departmentalambidextrous

Five syllable word with the primary stress on the second syllable

12345

romanticism commercialism conventionalizerefrigerator

consideration industrialize sophisticationCatholicism

Five syllable word with the primary stress on the third syllable

12345

photosynthesis personality archipelagooperational

parliamentary elementary beneficiarytemporarily

chronological choreography sedimentary metropolitan

Five syllable word with the primary stress on the fourth syllable

12345

accommodation characteristic appreciation temperamental

socialization authoritarianpronunciation antagonistic

consideration classification alliterationprecipitation

Self-reflection

Upon reading and studying about this topic I’ve learned that words use as nouns are given having the primary stress on the first syllable and the words use as verb are having their primary stress on its second syllable. Proper usage of the word’s stress will help for a healthy communication

between humans. This will help the receiver of the message to know what does the sender wants to tell. Through learning t5he proper usage

of word’s stress we will be able to pronounce the word or phrases correctly.

Teresa O. ChavezBSIT II

SPEECH AND ORAL COMMUNICATION