STRESS

According to S. Sivagnanachelvi et. al (2008), Stresses are important in

speech. They signal meaning, attitude and grammar. In other words, stress also
refers to the strength of the syllable or word pronounced. One or several syllables
may be found in a word. Words with more than one syllable will have a syllable
stress. Using the correct stress is important in being understood correctly, especially
when words can have similar spelling but different meaning.
The stressed syllable may sound longer, higher or stronger than the other
syllables in the word. To indicate which of the syllables in the word is stressed, a
mark is indicated in front of it. If we are not sure of where the stress is, the dictionary
gives the best guide to the stress system used. The stress mark is usually shonw like
this: / ` /. Therefore in the word, avoid, the stress is marked as follows in the
transcribed form: / `vId /.
It is said that the English language has a complex stress system and the
second language learner often has a hard time coping with it. However, underneath
all the complexities, some general principles are discernible. These principles are
discussed together with the activities. In this section, we shall examine the syllable
stress and the word stress. The syllable stress concentrates on the stress within an
isolated word while the words stress emphasis the pattern in a phrase or a sentence.

Syllable Stress
Syllables break our words up into sections which can be stressed, or
unstressed. Which syllable is stressed, alters the pronunciation of the word. Syllable
stress can be divided into four category that is, Two-syllable verbs, Two-syllable
nouns, Three-syllable verbs, and Three-syllable nouns.




Two-syllable verbs









Two-syllable nouns











Most of the time, the stress in on the first syllable. But if the
second contains a long vowels or diphtong or it ends with more
than one consonant, then the second syllable is stressed.
For example:
At tract
As sist
If the second syllable contains a short vowels then the stress is
on the first syllable most of the time. Or else, the stress is on the
second syllable.
For instance:
sugar
entry

Three-syllable verbs










Three-syllable nouns










The stress is usually on the second syllable if the last syllable
contains a short vowel and ends with not more than one
consonant. If the last syllable has a long vowel or diphtongs, or
ends with more than one consonant, then the final syllable is
stressed.
Example:
Discover
quantity
Entertain
If the noun contains a short vowel in the final syllable, it is not
stressed. If the syllable before this final syllable has a long
vowel or diphtong or if the word ends with more than one
consonant, then the middle syllable is stressed.

Example:
catalogue
Permission

Word Stress
Now that we understand the concept of syllables, let's look at how some
syllables are more important than others. Let's start by looking at some words.
What's the difference in pronunciation between the underlined words in the following
sentences: The Olympic team just set a new record in swimming. The musical
group is going to record a new CD (compact disc). "Record," in sentence (1) is
accented on the first syllable: RE-cord. "Record," in sentence (2) is accented on the
second syllable: re-CORD.The stress difference distinguishes the meaning of these
two words, even though they are spelled exactly the same. This phenomenon is
called "wordstress." English word stress is not as regular as in many languages, such
as French, in which the stress normally goes on the last syllable. However, the good
news is that there are ways in which you can know which syllable is stressed. To
understand more about word stress, it is good if we see the classes of word that are
stressed and not stressed.

Classes of word that are stressed











Nouns
- Words that refers to people, places or things (e.g: Judith, Japan)

Main Verbs
- Words used to say something about nouns (e.g: sing, walk)

Adjectives
- Word used to describe Nouns (e.g: red, pretty)

Adverbs
- Word used to describe verbs, adjectives or another adverbs (e.g: loudly)

Interrogative Pronouns
- Word used to asking question (e.g: who, when)

Demonstrative Pronouns
- Word used to point out the objects (e.g: the, that)

Classes of word that are not stressed

Personal Pronoun
- Word used instead of a noun that stands for the person speaking the
person spoken to, and the spoken of. (e.g: Me, I, You)

Articles
- Word that are used before nouns. (e.g: a, an, the)

Relatives Pronouns
- Words used to refer to nouns used earlier in the sentence. (e.g: who,
which, that, when)


Conjunction
- Words used to joint two words or sentence together. (e.g: and, but, or)


Auxiliary Verbs
- Verb that do not carry the main meaning of the sentence but assist the
main verb to express meaning in terms of time reference and mental
attitude.