Stressing the Importance of Word Stress
Ohio TESOL 2011 Conference:
Bridging Divides: From the Classroom to the Real World
Kathi Cennamo ([email protected])
Ron Clason ([email protected])
Mike Green ([email protected])
Ruth Roberts-Kohno ([email protected])
The Prosody Pyramid
Stressed vs. Unstressed Syllables
Primary stress
Unstressed
Secondary Stress
TElephone
TElephone
TElephone
Longest
Short
Long
Pitch Level
High
Low
Low
Loudness
Loud
Softer
Loud
Full Vowel
Reduced
Full Vowel
Vowel Length
Vowel Quality
English Word Stress Rules
Based on Accurate English, Section 6.4
I. Words with 1 syllable
Rule: A. Function words (pronouns, conjunctions, articles, prepositions, auxiliary
verbs): Do not stress the word.
B. Content word (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs): Stress the word.
II. Words with 2 syllables
Rule: A. In two-syllable nouns, stress the first syllable.
Examples: concept, problem, lesson, object
Exceptions: mistake, result
B. In all other two-syllable words, stress the root syllable. The root syllable is
the one that is neither a prefix nor a suffix (Please note: the root syllable
is not necessarily the second syllable!).
III. Words with more than 2 syllables
Rule: Place the stress according to the suffix.
Note: The stressed syllable is printed in bold type.
Type 1 Suffixes: Stress the syllable three syllables before the suffix.
Suffix
-gram
-graph
Model Word
cardiogram, encephalogram
radiograph, telegraph [exception?]
Type 2 Suffixes: Stress the syllable two syllables before the suffix.
Suffix
Model Word
-ant
radiant, applicant, stimulant
-ate
calculate, manipulate, dominate
-ize
recognize, analyze, hypothesize
-ism
socialism, Darwinism, communism
-ative
cumulative, speculative
-ary
contemporary, secondary
-ist
pragmatist, optimist, socialist, monopolist
-ism
optimism, Darwinism, skepticism
-ture
signature, armature, aperture
Type 3 Suffixes: Stress the syllable before the suffix.[Note: This is the largest
class of suffixes.]
Suffix
Model Word
-ial
controversial
-ual
individual, perceptual
-ian
Newtonian, Mozartian
-ion
opinion, definition, discussion
-ient
sufficient, gradient
-ious
curious
-ium (Element names) calcium, sodium
-eous
simultaneous
-uous
continuous
-ic
realistic, energetic
-ical
practical
-ity
possibility
-ify
classify
-itive
repetitive
-itude
-ine
-logy
-graphy
-meter
attitude
medicine, discipline
biology, physiology
geography
thermometer, calorimeter, ammeter
Type 4 Suffixes: Stress the suffix.
Suffix
-ain (verbs only)
-ee
-eer
-ese
-ique
Model Word
entertain, ascertain
examinee
engineer
Chinese
technique, unique
***********************
**VERY IMPORTANT: For any suffix other than those above, the stress does not
change when the suffix is added. For example:
-ness
happy + -ness =
-al (Added to a verb) continue + -al =
-ful
power + ful =
-age
cover + -age =
-ment
govern + -ment =
-er
paint + -er
=
-or
audit + -or
=
-ty
certain + -ty =
-ant (Added to a verb) determine + -ant
happiness
continual
powerful
coverage
government
painter
auditor
certainty
= determinant
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