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WEAK FORMS

Strong stress and rhythm are important in English.


There are stressed syllables (which carry weight, importance) and unstressed ones.
Stress and meaning are closely related.

Many short (form) words have developed weak forms, eg /ænd/ - /ən/, /tu:/ - /tə/.
Weak forms occur only in unstressed positions.
The strong form will always be used with words which are essential to the meaning of a passage.

In connected speech weak forms are much more frequent than the corresponding strong forms.
Foreigners tend to use weak forms too rarely.

The vowel phoneme of a strong form is, in the weak form of the word, most often replaced by /ə/
or left out. (/æz/ - /əz/ - /z/)
The consonant of the strong form may also be left out in the weak form of the word (/hi:/ - /i:/).

Examples:
1. and /ən/
Right and wrong. Better and better.

2. as /əz/
As soon as I can. Now I'm as fit as a fiddle again.

3. but /bət/
But why? But why not?

4. than /ðən/
Worse than ever. Sooner than expected.

5. that /ðət/
Is this the best that you can do?

6. the /ðə/
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

7. some /səm/
Could I have some more tea, please?

8. from /frəm/
Wine is made from grapes. He drank from a cup.

9. can /kən/
How can I help you? You can stay out of my way.

10. does /dəz/


When does the plane leave? What does he do for a living?

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