Word Stress – IV

                                  

        Word Stress – IV

Dear readers, in the previous post, we discussed trisyllabic words and their accented syllables. In this post, let us learn about the shift of accent/stress according to the function of words in English. We are aware that there is no fixed stress pattern in English. The stress patterns take dual functions according to their usage.

Words with No Shift in Word-Accent

Nouns or Adjectives	Verbs
ac-COUnt	ac-COUnt
ad-VAnce	ad-VAnce
BA-lance	BA-lance
HO-nour	HO-nour
mis-TAke	mis-TAke
re-MArk	re-Mark

 

Words with Shift in Word-Accent

Nouns or Adjectives	Verbs
AB-sent	ab-SEnt
CON-duct	con-DUCt
CON-tact	con-TACt
CON-tract	con-TRACt
CON-vict	con-VICt
EX-port	ex-PORt
IM-port	im-PORt
PEr-mit	per-MIt

 

The highlighted syllables take primary stress in every word mentioned above. In other words, the highlighted words should be pronounced with more prominence than other syllables in the words displayed. Hence, we should pronounce those given words by giving more stress on the selected syllables. If we practise the stress patterns while speaking English, it will sound like native-like pronunciation. 

In the next post, let us explore some interesting features about stress patterns.

Reference:

Balasubramanian, T. 2017. English Phonetics for Indian Students. Trinity Press.

   Author:

K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore-641 020