Univeristy of Algiers 2 Phonetics

Department of English 1 st year

Mrs. DAGHI (2020/2021)

Word Stress

Word stress refers to certain syllables in the word which bear stress. If a word
contains one syllable, i-e if it is a monosyllabic word, stress automatically falls on that
syllable. However, if the word consists of two syllables and more, one of these
syllables bears stress. Stress in English is variable, this means, it can fall on the first
syllable, on the second syllable, or on the third syllable …etc. Stress placement in
English is unpredictable; it is not similar to the placement of stress in the words of the
French language, for instance, where the last syllable is always stressed. Stress in
English does not have a predictable or a definite place.

What is meant by stressed syllables?

Stressed syllables are the ones which are produced with more prominence than
unstressed syllables. Stressed syllables are more prominent because they are heard to
be louder, stronger and longer than unstressed syllables.

Loudness: Louder syllables are produced with more muscular energy than unstressed
syllables.

Length: If one syllable is heard to be longer than an unstressed syllable, it is that

syllable which is stressed.

Strength: Stressed syllables contain longer vowels, diphthongs, or triphthongs (which

construct the strength of the peak). Whereas, weak syllables contain weak vowels
which are mainly; / ɪ, ʊ, ǝ/ and syllabic consonants taking into account that schwa /ǝ/ is
considered as the weakest vowel in English. If a word contains more than one syllable
and one of its syllables consists of one of the previously mentioned sounds that
syllable would be considered as a weak syllable, in comparison to other syllables.
Stress in two syllable words: In bi-syllabic words either the first or the second
syllable takes stress.

Stress in longer words: Longer words tend to have three syllables and more. Stress
in longer words may have two levels (degrees); primary stress and secondary stress.

Primary stress: Primary stress refers to the syllable in the word that is the most
stressed.

Primary stress is marked by a small vertical line placed above the stressed syllable.

Example: ˈjeopardy .

ˈMonarchy.

Secondary stress: Refers to a syllable in a word which is stressed to a certain extent

but not as strong as the primary stress. They are stronger than unstressed syllables but
weaker than primary stressed syllables.

Example: ˌrevoˈlution.

There must be unstressed syllables separating the primary stresses syllable from the
secondary stress.

Most unstressed syllables are weak syllables. They are weak because most of them
consist of one of the weakest vowels which are; /ə, ɪ, ʊ/ and the syllabic consonant.

Neither the primary stress nor the secondary stress has a fixed position in syllables in
English words.

Examples

Primary stress: ˈanswer, beˈgin,

Secondary stress: ˌrevoˈlution

Task1

Indicate the place of primary stress and of secondary stress in the following words, and
then produce them loudly:

Imagination, congratulations, deviation, deviationist, devotee,

dialectic, diagnostic, floriculture, himophilia, occidental,

pencillin.

Task2

Put stress on the following words, and then produce them loudly:

Photo, shopping, imagine, imaginary, wise, cooking, drive, lazy,

helplessness, congratulate, attitude, promise, promotion, aware,

awareness.