Intro to StressIntro to Stress

Emphasis on syllablesEmphasis on syllables

What is stress?What is stress?

• Speakers learning English often stress every syllable in a word.• English words can be short or long,

but each word only has ONE major stress.

• Example: WINner, CongratuLAtions• Make the stressed part Looonger

and LOUDER.• Make the unstressed part shorter

and quieter.

• Speakers learning English often stress every syllable in a word.• English words can be short or long,

but each word only has ONE major stress.

• Example: WINner, CongratuLAtions• Make the stressed part Looonger

and LOUDER.• Make the unstressed part shorter

and quieter.

Unstressed VowelsUnstressed Vowels• Pay close attention to the vowels

a, e, I, o, and u in the following:• atlas, college, tulip, anchor, lettuce

• How are the second vowels in each word pronounced differently from the first?• shorter and quieter • And… it sounds like a different vowel

sound

• Pay close attention to the vowels a, e, I, o, and u in the following:• atlas, college, tulip, anchor, lettuce

• How are the second vowels in each word pronounced differently from the first?• shorter and quieter • And… it sounds like a different vowel

sound

PracticePractice• Find a partner. Take turns reading the

following words to each other.• Your partner should try to guess which

vowel is reduced to schwa in each word.

A: distant, illness, cousin, purpose, minuteB: palace, socket, promise, ribbon, circusA: advice, escape, disease, offend, suggestB: canoe, dessert, divide, contain, subtract

• Find a partner. Take turns reading the following words to each other.

• Your partner should try to guess which vowel is reduced to schwa in each word.

A: distant, illness, cousin, purpose, minuteB: palace, socket, promise, ribbon, circusA: advice, escape, disease, offend, suggestB: canoe, dessert, divide, contain, subtract

Think about itThink about it

• Look back again at the words you just practiced saying.

• Can you make a rule for which vowel changes to “schwa”?• The vowels in the unstressed

syllables!

• Look back again at the words you just practiced saying.

• Can you make a rule for which vowel changes to “schwa”?• The vowels in the unstressed

syllables!

Say Hello! to “Schwa”Say Hello! to “Schwa”

• In general, unstressed vowels are reduced to “schwa” /´/

• That makes “schwa” the most frequently used vowel sound in English!

• Being able to pronounce “schwa” correctly not only effects the way individual words sound, but also the rhythm of the entire sentence.

• In general, unstressed vowels are reduced to “schwa” /´/

• That makes “schwa” the most frequently used vowel sound in English!

• Being able to pronounce “schwa” correctly not only effects the way individual words sound, but also the rhythm of the entire sentence.

ExceptionException• Do all unstressed vowels reduce to

“schwa”?• Consider the following: • athlete, contact, celebrate, telephone

• The answer, unfortunately, is no.• Some unstressed syllables receive a

little bit of stress, we call this minor stress

• The vowels in these syllables their original pronunciation (but are still softer and shorter)

• Do all unstressed vowels reduce to “schwa”?

• Consider the following: • athlete, contact, celebrate, telephone

• The answer, unfortunately, is no.• Some unstressed syllables receive a

little bit of stress, we call this minor stress

• The vowels in these syllables their original pronunciation (but are still softer and shorter)

Ready… Set… STRESS! Ready… Set… STRESS!

AIRplaneBACKacheBOOKstoreCALendarCLASSroomCONflictconFLICT

AIRplaneBACKacheBOOKstoreCALendarCLASSroomCONflictconFLICT

converSAtionCURiousDOCumentecoNOMicalgraduAtionHAIRcuthiSTORic

converSAtionCURiousDOCumentecoNOMicalgraduAtionHAIRcuthiSTORic

INstrumentJANuaryjuLYMONdayneCESSityocTOberpoLITical

INstrumentJANuaryjuLYMONdayneCESSityocTOberpoLITical

PREsentpreSENTPROjectproJECTRADicalreaLISTicreALity

PREsentpreSENTPROjectproJECTRADicalreaLISTicreALity

Where’s the stress?Where’s the stress?

• How can you tell where to put the stress on unfamiliar words?

• There’s no rule that applies all the time… but there are some patterns we can pay attention to

• How can you tell where to put the stress on unfamiliar words?

• There’s no rule that applies all the time… but there are some patterns we can pay attention to

Streeeetch it Out!Streeeetch it Out!

PROduceREcordPREsentCONflictPROject

PROduceREcordPREsentCONflictPROject

proDUCEreCORDpreSENTconFLICTproJECT

proDUCEreCORDpreSENTconFLICTproJECT

Guideline #1: In 2-Syllable words, nouns are stressed on the first syllable (90%), for verbs the stress is on the second syllable. (60%)

What’s the difference in meaning between the following words?

What’s the difference in meaning between the following words?

Clap your Hands!Clap your Hands!

instrumentcalendarcurious

sentimentdocument

instrumentcalendarcurious

sentimentdocument

commercialvanilla

developastonishopponent

commercialvanilla

developastonishopponent

Guideline #2: In 3-syllable words, major stress is often on the first or second syllable. If the major stress in on the first syllable, then the third often gets minor stress.

How many syllables does each of these words have?Which syllables are stressed?

How many syllables does each of these words have?Which syllables are stressed?

hurricaneappetitecrocodile

congregatefavorite

hurricaneappetitecrocodile

congregatefavorite

1st Syllable1st Syllable 2nd Syllable2nd Syllable 1st + Minor 3rd1st + Minor 3rd

Nod your Head!Nod your Head!

airplanearmchairbackachebookstoreclassroom

airplanearmchairbackachebookstoreclassroom

bedtimebirthplace

haircuthair-stylegold mine

bedtimebirthplace

haircuthair-stylegold mine

Guideline #3: In Compound words, the first word receives major stress, and the second word receives minor stress.

Where is the stress?What else do all these words have in common?

Where is the stress?What else do all these words have in common?

Why does stress matter here?

Why does stress matter here?

• That’s a black BOARD.• That’s a BLACKboard.

• He works in a green HOUSE.• He works in a GREEN house.

• I saw a black BIRD.• I saw a BLACKbird.

• That’s a black BOARD.• That’s a BLACKboard.

• He works in a green HOUSE.• He works in a GREEN house.

• I saw a black BIRD.• I saw a BLACKbird.

Consider the meaning of the following sentences.Consider the meaning of the following sentences.

Tap your Desk!Tap your Desk!

Photograph photography photographicDemocrat democracy democraticAristocrat aristocracy aristocraticDiplomat diplomacy diplomatic

Photograph photography photographicDemocrat democracy democraticAristocrat aristocracy aristocraticDiplomat diplomacy diplomatic

Guideline #4: Suffixes change the placement of stress in related words. Major stress always falls on the last syllable before these suffixes: -ic, -ity, -ical, -tion

Where is the stress in the following words?Why does the stress move?

Where is the stress in the following words?Why does the stress move?

ExamplesExamples

• hiSTORic, reaLISTic...• neCESSity, reALity...• ecoNOMical, poLITical...• graduAtion, converSAtion...

• hiSTORic, reaLISTic...• neCESSity, reALity...• ecoNOMical, poLITical...• graduAtion, converSAtion...

Can you think of more? Can you think of more?