Stress in English words. Accent in English

Everyone knows what stress is, even if they cannot clearly formulate the definition of this word. How important is it to put stress correctly in English? Can incorrect stress change the meaning of a word? Should all words in a sentence have stress? Let's take it in order.

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
— Abigail Adams

Stressed syllables

Correct placement of stress in English is important primarily because numerous reading rules depend on the stressed and unstressed syllable. For example, if there is an open syllable under stress, then the vowel in it is read as it is called in the alphabet: cucumber ["kju:kʌmbə] - the stress falls on the first syllable.

If we assume that this word should have stress on the second syllable, then it would be read as , and if on the third, then . In other words, incorrectly placed stress changes the sound of the word, and therefore makes it difficult to understand. By the way, you need to remember that in English transcription the stress mark is placed before the stressed syllable, and not above it, as in Russian. Another important point: in fluent speech, sometimes stress helps to distinguish similar words. For example:

• PHOtograph,
• phoTOgrapher,
• photoGRAPHic.

These three words have different stressed syllables, which makes it possible not to confuse them when perceiving speech at a fast pace.

Top 5 simplest rules

1. If a noun or adjective has 2 syllables, then the stress usually falls on the first syllable: “HAPpy”, “SOfa”, “SISter”, “PAper”, “SILLY”, “CLEver”.

2. If the verb has 2 syllables, then the stress often falls on the second syllable: “beGIN”, “atTEND”, “exPLAIN”, “supPORT”. For some words, stress is the only way to differentiate between a noun and a verb:

• a PREsent — to preSENT;
• an INcrease - to inCREASE;
• an OBject - to obJECT.

3. In words with various “smart” suffixes, the stress is placed immediately before the suffix:

• -able: enJOYable, dePendable;
• -ary: LIBRary, DIary;
• -graphy: geOgraphy, callIgraphy;
• -logy: psyCHOlogy, termiNOlogy;
• -ion: classifiCAtion, informationMAtion.

4. In complex nouns, the first syllable is usually stressed, in verbs and adjectives - the second:

• BLACKboard, STRAWberry, MERmaid
• overCOME, underSTAND, self-CONfident

5. Long words can have two stresses: primary and secondary. As a rule, the primary, stronger and clearer, falls on the third syllable, and the secondary - on the first (we denote the secondary stress in bold in the examples, and in transcription the icon for such an stress is usually placed at the bottom before the syllable):

un derSTAND [,ʌndə"stænd ], au toMAtically, un beLIEvable.

In a language as idiomatically stressed as English, opportunities for misreadings are bound to arise. By a mere backward movement of stress, a verb can become a noun, an act a thing. To refuse, to insist on saying no to what you believe is wrong, becomes at a stroke refuse, an insurmountable pile of garbage.
—Ian McEwan

Phrase stress

Not every word in an English sentence is stressed. For example, function words (prepositions, conjunctions, particles, articles), pronouns, auxiliary verbs often remain unstressed:

• What are you doing? - I am reading.
• She lives in the village.

So, in these examples, only the highlighted words will be stressed.

Phrase stress helps to build a peculiar rhythm of English speech, because, as a rule, stressed syllables are pronounced at the same interval. Because of this, unstressed syllables must be shortened and pronounced fluently. In fact, this is one of the reasons why it is sometimes so difficult to understand spoken language. A short video tutorial will help you deal with this issue.

Oh, God, I don't know what's more difficult, life or the English language.
— Jonathan Ames

In addition, it is important to understand which of the stressed words is the most important in the sentence, that is, carries the main logical stress.

• He visits his parents once a week. (not she)
• He visits his parents once a week. (he does not call them, etc)
• He visits his parents once a week. (his parents, not his wife's parents)
• He visits him parents once a week. (parents, not aunt and uncle, etc)
• He visits his parents once a week. (once, not twice)
• He visits his parents once a week. (once a week, not once a month)

So, the correct placement of stress is very important, while stress on each word is a clear sign of a foreign accent. If you want to get rid of it, learn to imitate the speech of native speakers, paying attention to rhythm, tempo and phrasal stress. Just 5 minutes a day will significantly change your pronunciation for the better. By learning English via Skype, you can complete this task (and many others) with ease.

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

Stress is the emphasis on one of the syllables in a word. It can also fall on a whole word, phrase, word as part of a sentence to enhance the semantic load.

Accents. For what?

Each language has different rules for placing accents. English is no exception. And each language differs from another in the rules of accent placement. For example, in French the stress always falls on the last syllable, and, for example, in Latin it is placed on the second or third from the end. In Polish it falls on the penultimate syllable. This is all called fixed stress. But it is important to know that there are also unfixed accents in words. A striking example of this is our native Russian language, which has a number of peculiarities in the placement of stress. Therefore, it is very difficult for foreigners to study. After all, our native language is complex in its grammar of stress placement.

Let's return to accentology in Russian. Stress can fall on absolutely any syllable in a word. There is no special rule for placing accents in words in the Russian language, as, for example, in Latin. But there are some points that you can rely on when studying. Stress in the Russian language can distinguish one word from another, it can be the same in words with the same root, but at the same time it can differ. Russian is so complex that even native speakers themselves are not always aware of this or that word.

But the question arises: “Why is this emphasis needed at all?” Everything is extremely simple! After all, it allows a person to understand and distinguish words in a violent stream of speech.

As for the stress in words of the English language, there are also a number of rules and features. To correctly place stress in the English language, you need to clearly understand the system of dividing words into syllables. It is important to note that in this regard English is very similar to Russian because they both have free stress. This can be quite difficult for a foreigner.

To make it easier for yourself when learning English, a person must clearly know:

• accent;
• syllable type (closed or open).

As in Russian, English words have open and closed syllables, and identifying them is a fairly easy task. After all, open syllables end in a vowel, and closed syllables end in a consonant.

In general, there are two most important rules:

1. One word can contain only one main stress! Of course, you can find more than one accent in an English word. But it will always contain the main stress and only then the secondary ones, which are weaker than the first and are found in very long words.
2. The stress in English, as in any other language, falls on a vowel or vowel sound! Of course, there are exceptions to the rules, but their number is very small.

It is important to note that in English some vocabular elements may be stressed more or less often. For example, a part of a word such as a prefix in a noun is stressed much more often than a prefix in a verb. There are also suffixes, which, as a rule, are stressed. We offer a list of them:

• -ate;
• -ete;
• -ite;
• -ute.

Stress rules in English

When mastering grammar, you should remember that this section is important in colloquial speech and less significant when working with texts. There are a number of rules for setting accents in English. By adhering to them, you will be able to correctly place emphasis on words. This is incredibly important when mastering a foreign language. So, the rules:

1. In writing, the stress is placed on the third syllable from the end. Let's give an example of a word: abIlity, university, socIology, etc.
2. In words of French origin, the accent will remain unchanged. For example, the words: hotEl, guitarAr. These words retain their French accent.
3. The accent can be placed after prefixes. For example, a-lone, be-fore, o-mit, under-stand.

It is important to note that some suffixes can have a certain influence on the placement of stress. For example, -ry tends to move the stress to the fourth syllable from the end of the word. Vivid examples of this are the words: ORdinary voCAbulary.

Or the suffix -ic usually contains an accent before it. For example, draMAtic symBOlic.

Accents in derived words

In derivative words, the stress may remain the same as in the original word, but at the same time it may change. For example, in the case of creating a noun from a verb or vice versa, the stress often remains unchanged. For example, the noun "deNIal", when transformed into the verb "deNY", retains its original stress. But in derivative words, a situation is still possible when the stress shifts. For example, the noun "OBject", transformed into the verb "obJEct", shifts the stress to the second syllable from the end of the word.

Emphasis on first, second syllables

In English, the stress falls on the first syllable in the following cases:

• Almost all nouns and adjectives that have two syllables are stressed on the first.
• Almost all verbs that include the same two in total have an emphasis on the second syllable.

Word stress

Word stress in English is the emphasis on a syllable in a vocable. Long units can contain two stresses: main and secondary (it is also often called secondary).

When learning new words, it is important to remember the main accent. And you need to be aware that even in words with the same root, stress can change. The perception of your speech by other people depends on how you master this topic, because accentology helps to separate a set of letters into understandable phrases.

About phrasal stress

Phrase stress in English is the pronunciation of certain words more emotionally than others, which are called unstressed.

Typically, stressed words in English are:

• nouns;
• verbs (semantic);
• adjectives;
• demonstrative pronouns;
• interrogative pronouns;
• adverbs;
• numerals.

Usually unstressed are: personal pronouns, articles, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, prepositions.

We can say that phrasal accent has the same functions as verbal accent. It is divided into two types: centralized and decentralized.

The centralized view presents as the center a word or many words on which the speaker places emphasis. With the decentralized type, the speaker places emphasis on the whole sentence. This highlights not a specific word, but the entire phrase.

Degrees of phrasal accent in words

In English, there are three degrees of phrasal stress, which include the following:

• Main. Receives the most emphasis.
• Secondary. Receives less strong emphasis.
• Weak. Gets an even less strong accent.

Generally, the more important a word is, the more the speaker should emphasize it when speaking.

About logical stress

But it is important to note that, if necessary, the speaker, of course, has the right to give emphasis to any word, even if it is included in the list of unstressed ones.

Firstly, it must be said that intonation plays a huge role in English speech. The function of intonation is to convey the tone of the phrase spoken by the speaker. This is the main difference between Russian and English. After all, Russian intonation is perceived as boring and flat. And English contains the pace of speech, logical pauses and, of course, tone.

As already mentioned, logical stress in English is deliberately highlighted words for emotional connotation. In speech there is a rise and fall of intonation. It is important to note that there are also mixed ones to give oral speech a special brightness and richness.

Date _______________________

Topic: “Stress in words”

Goal and tasks

Systematize and clarify students’ knowledge about stress

To form an idea of ​​the meaning-distinguishing role of stress in words;

Expand vocabulary, develop children’s speech;

Develop thinking, creativity, interest in learning the Russian language.

Form: practical work

Equipment: cards for completing tasks

Progress of the lesson

1. Org. Moment

2 Main part.

Everyone knows what stress is, even if they cannot clearly formulate the definition of this word. How important is it to put stress correctly in English? Can incorrect stress change the meaning of a word? Should all words in a sentence have stress? Let's take it in order.

Stressed syllables

Correct placement of stress in English is important primarily because numerous reading rules depend on the stressed and unstressed syllable. For example, if there is an open syllable under stress, then the vowel in it is read as it is called in the alphabet: cucumber ["kju:kʌmbə] - the stress falls on the first syllable.

If we assume that this word should have stress on the second syllable, then it would be read as, and if on the third, then. In other words, incorrectly placed stress changes the sound of the word, and therefore makes it difficult to understand. By the way, you need to remember that in English The stress mark is placed before the stressed syllable, and not above it, as in Russian. Another important point: in fluent speech, sometimes stress helps to distinguish similar words. For example:

PHOtograph,

phoTOgrapher,

photoGRAPHic.

These three words have different stressed syllables, which makes it possible not to confuse them when speeches at a fast pace.

Top 5 simplest rules

1. If a noun or adjective has 2 syllables, then the stress usually falls on the first syllable: “HAPpy”, “SOfa”, “SISter”, “PAper”, “SILLY”, “CLEver”.

If the verb has 2 syllables, then the stress often falls on the second syllable: “beGIN”, “atTEND”, “exPLAIN”, “supPORT”. For some words, stress is the only way to differentiate between a noun and a verb:

a PREsent - to preSENT;

an INcrease - to inCREASE;

an OBject - to obJECT.

3. In words with various “smart” suffixes, the stress is placed immediately before the suffix:

Able: enJOYable, dePendable;

Ary: LIBRary, DIary;

Graphy: geOgraphy, callIgraphy;

Logy: psyCHOlogy, termiNOlogy;

Ion: classifiCAtion, inforMAtion.

4. In complex nouns, the first syllable is usually stressed, in verbs and adjectives - the second:

BLACKboard, STRAWberry, MERmaid

overCOME, underSTAND, self-CONfident

5. Long words can have two stresses: primary and secondary. As a rule, the primary, stronger and clearer, falls on the third syllable, and the secondary - on the first (we denote the secondary stress in bold in the examples, and in transcription the icon for such an stress is usually placed at the bottom before the syllable):

un derSTAND [,ʌndə"stænd ],au toMAtically,un beLIEvable.

3. Practical Part

Trainingexercises

[ɔ:] also, false, salt, alter, bald, almost, already, always, walnut, all, ball, call, fall, gall, tall, wall, balk, calk, chalk, stalk, talk, walk

Ask, answer, pass, grass, plant, bath, path, father, rather, fasten, can’t, after, class, chance

Child, mild, wild, bind, blind, behind, find, kind, mind

[əʊ] old, cold, bold, told, sold, gold, fold, hold, scold, bolt, colt, dolt, molten, host, most, post, poster

[ Λ ] some, come, comfort, company, stomach, become, compass, none, money, monkey, son, ton, sponge, monk, month, Monday, London, front, won, among,

done, tongue, monger, onion, dove, glove, love, above, cover, govern, oven,

mother, brother, nothing, other, another.

Exercise 1.

Read, paying attention to the pronunciation of vowel sounds.

big - bed - bag nut - not - note

milk - men - man hut - hot - hole

Exercise 2.

Read, paying attention to the pronunciation of short sounds and diphthongs.

lot - lone big - bike Sam - same

pot - poke hill - hide tap - tape

top - toy cost - coin

Exercise 3. Read and write the following words:

[ smαı l] [ klαı m] [ slim]

[ tαı m] [ hip] [ fi ∫]

Exercise 4. Place stress on words

short, garden, dirt, German, burglar, pork, scarf, merchant, worn, bar, large, internal, herself, hard, inform, export, art, farm, circle, card, carpet, horn

Exercise 5. Read and write and place emphasis on the following words:

, , , , , .

Exercise 6. Read

Nick has a fine kite.

Pete has five pink pigs and nine chicks.

I like milk and pie.

Mike likes to ride a bike.

His fish is thin and his stick is thick.

Bill likes winter and spring.

Hi, I am fine.

I like to drink milk for dinner.

Bring five, six or nine dishes with chips.

4. Summing up

Equal to a word or part of it.

I , ten , sofa [‘sәu-fә]

English syllables are formed by vowels and sonants. Of the sonants, the syllabic ones are almost always [l], [n], sometimes [m]. They form syllables when separated from the syllabic vowel by a consonant sound, i.e. when they do not border on vowels.

[‘li-tl], [‘se:-tn], [‘ri-ðm]

Stress in English words

Word stress is the emphasis of one or two syllables in a word sound. Such syllables are perceived as louder and stronger than others. In English, stressed syllables stand out more strongly than in Russian, being pronounced more energetically and faster.

An English stressed syllable is usually indicated by a ‘ before the start of the transcribed stressed syllable. Some outdated dictionaries indicate stress by underlining a syllable. (Transcription of English sounds)

‘ minute['minit]

below

Like Russian, English stress can fall on different syllables: ‘ lazy, dic'tation. But most often it falls on the penultimate syllable or gravitates towards the beginning of the word. In polysyllabic (from 4 syllables) words, for rhythmic purposes (usually every syllable), there is a balancing secondary stress, pronounced half-heartedly.

| under'standing[ | andә’stændiŋ]

i |magi'nation

Sentence stress

Prepositional or phrasal stress is the selection of some words in a syntagm from others. In English, the stress in a sentence is usually semantic or significant words: nouns, adjectives, semantic verbs, numerals, adverbs, pronouns (interrogative, demonstrative, reflexive, absolute possessive), interjections. Usually, function words are unstressed: articles, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary and modal verbs, linking verbs, personal and possessive pronouns, particles. In Russian, function words like personal and possessive pronouns are usually stressed.

‘Yesterday I ‘lost my ‘keys – YesterdayIlostkeys

Statement center

The communicative center of an utterance usually coincides with the word(s) spoken with the final tone. Often this is the last stressed word in the syntagm. A word or words as a communicative center express the most important information of a sentence and communicate something new.

Mr'Smith'walkstothe 'officeevery\day(It is important when Mr. Smith goes to work).

Mr'Smith\walkstothe |office |every |day(It is important how Mr. Smith gets to work).

English Joke

The witness was obviously a rustic and quite new to the ways of a court-room. So, the judge directed him:

“Speak to the jury, sir-the men sitting behind you on the benches.”

The witness turned, bowed clumsily and said.

In English, there are verbal, phrasal and logical stress.

Word stress

Isolating one or two syllables in a word from others using voice and/or prolonged pronunciation is called word stress. Accent marks in English are not displayed in writing in any way, but they can be found in the transcription of words. In English, unlike Russian, the stress mark is placed not above the vowel of a stressed syllable, but before the stressed syllable.

The vowel sound is always stressed.

Polysyllabic and compound words often contain two stressed syllables. The main stress is indicated by the sign ["], and the secondary stress is [ˌ]

Example: archaeologist [ˌɑːkɪ"ɔləʤɪst]

Stress in two-syllable words

In most cases, the stress in two-syllable words falls on the root syllable, usually the first syllable. Most nouns and adjectives belong to this group of words.

Examples:

forest ["fɔrɪst]

border ["bɔːdə]

pretty ["prɪtɪ]

Another group of words includes verbs, adverbs, and function words, which often contain prefixes (prefixes). In the words of this group, the stress is on the second syllable, since the prefix they contain is unstressed.

Stress in polysyllabic words

In most polysyllabic words, the stress is on the third syllable, counted from the end of the word.

Examples:

capital ["kæpɪtəl]

balcony ["bælkənɪ]

If a word has two stresses, the secondary stress is placed one syllable to the left of the main stressed syllable.

Example: precipitation

Phrase stress

In an English sentence, the following parts of speech are usually stressed: nouns, semantic verbs, adjectives, numerals, adverbs, demonstrative and interrogative pronouns.

Unstressed are: articles, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions, prepositions, modal verbs, personal and possessive pronouns.

Logical stress

Logical stress - highlighting in a sentence one or more words that are most important in meaning for the speaker.