Second year LMD

Phonetics

Lecturer: Dr. Chelli

Lecture No. 6
Word Stress
Complex words (compound words)
Compound words may be analysed as two words, both of which can exist independently as English words. They normally
contain a single primary accent on one syllable, another syllable carrying a secondary accent.
Compound words may be composed of:
1. Two nouns: the first element is stressed
2. gerund +noun: the first element is stressed
Activity: transcribe the following words and mark stress
Word
air-raid
clothesbrush
tea cup
washing-machine
waiting - room
cleaning cloth

Transcription

Word
backache
earthquake
button hole
shopkeeper
dining -room
shopping- bag

Transcription

Stress these compound nouns

Notebook, bookstore, toothbrush, keyboard ,armchair, mailbox, headphones, headquarters, rainbow, battery charger, suitcase,
lipstick, bus stop, hometown
Exceptions: ,headmaster
mankind
3. Adjective and ed morpheme at the end receive stress on the second element.
Activity: transcribe and mark stress
Word
bad-tempered
well-educated
barefooted
well-dressed

Transcription

Word
full- grown
heavy-hearted
blue-eyed
long-sighted

Transcription

4. Adjective and gerund at the end receive stress on the second element

,easy- going

,good-looking

5. Compounds in which the first element is a number: the second element is stressed
Activity: transcribe
Word
three-wheeler
second class

Transcription

Word
one-eyed
three cornered

Transcription

6. Compounds functioning as adverbs are usually finally stressed

,North east

,down-stream

7. Compounds which function as verbs and have an adverbial element first take final stress

,ill- treat

,back-pedal

, down-grade

Stress these compound adverbs

,Upstairs

,uphill

,hereby

,outside

8. Phrasal verbs are stressed on the second element

,Let down

,take over

,turn off

But the same words can be used as nouns, in this case the first element is stressed like: make up

take off