Word Stress in Phonetics: Putting the Emphasis on

Pronunciation
 What is Word Stress?

● Word stress is the emphasis placed on a

specific syllable in a word
● It's a key part of pronunciation in many
languages, including English
● Stressed syllables are usually louder,
longer, and higher in pitch
● Why do you think word stress is important
in speaking?
 Key Terms
● Syllable: A unit of pronunciation with one vowel sound
● Stress: The emphasis given to a syllable
● Primary stress: The strongest emphasis in a word
● Secondary stress: A weaker emphasis in longer words
● Unstressed: Syllables with no emphasis
How to Identify
Stressed Syllables
● Listen for the syllable that sounds stronger
● It may be slightly louder or longer
● The pitch might be higher
● Try saying the word and exaggerating
each syllable - which feels most natural to
emphasize?
 Primary Stress Examples
● COMputer (stress on first syllable)
● baNAna (stress on second syllable)
● underSTAND (stress on last syllable)
● Can you think of other words with different stress patterns?
 Secondary Stress

● Found in longer words with multiple

syllables
● Weaker than primary stress, but still
emphasized
● Example: photographic (pho-to-GRAPH-ic)
● The "pho" has secondary stress, "GRAPH"
has primary stress
 Stress Patterns in English
● Most two-syllable nouns: stress on first syllable (TAble, APple)
● Most two-syllable verbs: stress on second syllable (beGIN,
preSENT)
● Words ending in -tion, -sion, -cian: stress on second-to-last
syllable (eduCAtion, teleVIsion, musiCIAN)
● What patterns do you notice in words you know?
Importance of Word
Stress
● Helps listeners understand speech more
easily
● Can change the meaning of words (e.g.,
PREsent vs. preSENT)
● Contributes to the rhythm and melody of
language
● Improves overall clarity and
comprehension
 Stress-Shifting Words
● Some words change stress depending on their part of speech
● Example: REcord (noun) vs. reCORD (verb)
● Other examples: PERmit/perMIT, CONduct/conDUCT
● Can you use these words in sentences to show their different
meanings?
 Compound Words and
Stress
● Compound nouns usually stress the first
word: BLACKbird, GREENhouse
● Compound adjectives often stress the
second word: old-FASHioned,
bad-TEMpered
● Compound verbs typically stress the
second word: underSTAND, overCOME
 Prefixes and Suffixes
● Prefixes generally don't receive stress: unHAPpy, reTURN
● Many suffixes affect stress: photoGRAPH, phoTOGraphy,
photoGRAPHic
● How does adding suffixes change the stress in words you know?
Word Stress in
Numbers
● Teen numbers stress the second syllable:
thirTEEN, fourTEEN
● Decade numbers stress the first syllable:
TWENty, THIRty
● Ordinal numbers follow the same pattern:
thirTEENth, TWENtieth
 Contrastive Stress
● Used to emphasize specific words in a sentence for meaning
● Example: "I said red pen, not blue pen" (stress on "red" and
"blue")
● Can change the implication of a sentence
● Try saying "I didn't say she stole my money" with stress on
different words
 Common Stress
Mistakes
● Stressing every word equally (robotic
speech)
● Misplacing stress in longer words
(comFORtable instead of COMfortable)
● Ignoring stress shifts in related words
(PHOtograph vs. phoTOGrapher)
● What words do you find tricky to stress
correctly?
 Practicing Word Stress
● Listen carefully to native speakers
● Use a dictionary with pronunciation guides
● Practice with tongue twisters and poems
● Record yourself speaking and analyze your stress patterns
Word Stress in Other
Languages
● French: generally stresses the last syllable
of a phrase
● Spanish: usually stresses the
second-to-last syllable
● Japanese: has pitch accent rather than
stress
● How does stress work in other languages
you know?
 The Role of Stress in Rhythm
● Creates the "music" of language
● Helps group words into meaningful chunks
● Contributes to the stress-timed nature of English
● Try tapping out the rhythm of a sentence - what do you notice?
 Conclusion: The Power of
Proper Stress

● Improves clarity and comprehension

● Enhances natural-sounding speech
● Helps avoid misunderstandings
● Boosts confidence in language use
● How will you apply your knowledge of
word stress?