WE) The Accentual Structure of English Words

THE ACCENTUAL
STRUCTURE OF
ENGLISH WORDS
Presented by: Tagabergen Zhanna, Uzbekova Akmarzhan, Konarova Riza, Turganbekova
Zhaksygul, Tolebai Almira
Questions to consider
◦ General characteristics of word stress. Types of stress.
◦ The principles of word-stress classification.
◦ The accentuation tendencies of English.
The accentual structure of English words
◦ English words typically have one stressed syllable, and the pattern of stressed and unstressed
syllables creates the accentual structure. While some words have secondary stress, it's usually
less prominent. Stressed syllables are louder, longer, and higher in pitch, while unstressed
syllables are shorter and lower in pitch. The placement of stress contributes to the rhythm of
spoken English, forming a key aspect of pronunciation and comprehension.
◦ The syllable or syllables which are uttered with more prominence than the other syllables of
the word are said to be stressed or accented. Word stress can be defined as the singling out of
one or more syllables in a word, which is accompanied by the change of the force of utterance,
pitch of the voice, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the sound which is usually a
vowel. The correlation of varying prominences of syllables in a word is understood as the
accentual structure of the word or its stress pattern.
General characteristics of word stress. Types of
stress
◦ Word stress in English involves emphasizing specific syllables within words. General characteristics include the
rhythmic alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables, creating a distinctive cadence.
◦ Stress is usually represented in the phonemic chart and transcription by the symbol /ˈ/ placed before the stresses
syllable. In words that have secondary stress, we include the symbol /ˌ/ before the appropriate syllable (e.g.
everybody: /ˈev.riˌbɒd.i/).
◦ Unlike sentence stress, that frequently changes position according to the speakers’ intention, word stress tends to be
fairly invariable. As a result, even when we want to emphasise a word over all others in an utterance, we tend to stick
to the usual word stress pattern, making the stressed syllable even longer, louder or more high-pitched. Because of this
relative invariability, mistakes in word stress may lead to more problems with intelligibility than other errors related to
pronunciation, so it is crucial that students are made aware of how the word is usually pronounced.
Types of stress
There are three main types of stress: primary stress (the strongest emphasis), secondary stress (a lesser degree of
emphasis), and unstressed syllables (minimal emphasis). The placement of stress contributes to the overall rhythm and
flow of spoken English, impacting the pronunciation and perception of words.
◦ 1. *Primary Stress:* This is the strongest emphasis within a word and is typically marked by increased loudness,
length, and pitch. It gives a distinctive prominence to a specific syllable.
◦ 2. *Secondary Stress:* Some words have more than one stressed syllable, and among these, one syllable is primary,
while others carry a lesser degree of stress known as secondary stress.
◦ 3. *Unstressed Syllables:* These syllables receive minimal emphasis and are generally shorter, quieter, and lower in
pitch. They contribute to the rhythm and flow of spoken English
The arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables creates the characteristic rhythm of English speech.
The principles of word-stress classification.
◦ Word-stress classification in English is based on the principles of syllable prominence and rhythm. Here are some key
principles:
◦ 1. *Location of Primary Stress:* Classifying words involves determining which syllable within a word receives primary
stress. This can be initial (at the beginning of the word), final (at the end), or medial (in the middle).
◦ 2. *Rhythmic Patterns:* English follows trochaic or iambic patterns. Trochaic words have the stress on the first syllable, like
"happy," while iambic words stress the second syllable, like "begin.“
◦ 3. *Morphological Factors:* Word structure and morphology influence stress. For compound nouns, the primary stress often
falls on the first element (e.g., 'blackbird'). Prefixes and suffixes can also affect stress placement.
◦ 4. *Word Class:* Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs may exhibit different stress patterns. Understanding the grammatical
category of a word aids in predicting its stress.
◦ 5. *Vowel Quality:* Vowel reduction in unstressed syllables, known as schwa, is a common feature. Vowels in unstressed
syllables may become a neutral "uh" sound.
◦ These principles collectively contribute to the classification of word stress in English.
The accentuation tendencies ofEnglish.
◦ In English, accentuation tendencies vary, and understanding them is essential for accurate pronunciation. Some key tendencies
include:
◦ 1. *Compound Nouns:* The first element in a compound noun often bears the primary stress, like in "blackbird.“
◦ 2. *Prefixes and Suffixes:* The stress placement can change with the addition of prefixes or suffixes. For instance, 're' in
"renew" usually gets secondary stress.
◦ 3. *Word Class Influence:* Different word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) may exhibit distinct stress patterns. For
example, stress often shifts in pairs of noun-verb pairs, like 'CONvert' (noun) versus 'conVERT' (verb).
◦ 4. *Loanwords:* The stress in borrowed words may retain the pattern of the original language. For example, "piano" retains
the Italian stress on the first syllable.
◦ 5. *Syllable Weight:* Heavier syllables, often with long vowels or complex consonant clusters, are more likely to receive
stress.
◦ These accentuation tendencies contribute to the dynamic nature of English stress patterns, making it a nuanced aspect of
pronunciation.
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

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THE ACCENTUAL

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