Pronunciation Integration #5: Word Stress and Vocabulary Sets

Publicado por Marina Cantarutti

There is a connection betweeen theme-based lexical sets and some basic word stress patterns for
compound words.

Brief Theoretical Overview

Compounding is a very productive process in English, and the frequent combination of two words making
up a unique semantic unit usually undergoes a historical process. The combination is generally "born" as
two separate words operating together, then they may become hyphenated, and then, become one word,
even, through a process of monolithicity (Zenobi, 1987). There is always a debate as to whether to
consider several combinations actual compounds, or just collocations, as the typical contrast between a
DARKroom (a "true" compound) and a DARK ROOM (a phrase or collocation).

The truth is that combinations of two or three words in English that generally operate together may reveal
different stress patterns. We generally distinguish about single-stressed (left-stressed) vs. double-stressed
compounds (or rightmost-stressed) (Ortiz Lira,1998; Teschner and Whitley, 2004), that is, compounds in
which the first item carries the primary stress versus those in which the primary stress is borne by the
second item, with a secondary stress on the first item (whose location will depend as to whether there is
stress shift or not. A single-stressed compound could be READing glasses, and a double-stressed one,
SLEEPing BEAUty.

Out of the dozen rules presented by theorists, the one that entertains me the most is precisely this ING +
Noun rule, as it can lead to funny combinations, which have been illustrated in Haycraft (1994)'s funny
pictures of a WALKing STICK (a stick that is walking) or a READing LAMP (a lamp that is reading!), for
example, and likewise, below:

So a "SLEEPing pill" is a "pill for sleeping", whereas a "SLEEPing PILL" is what you see in the picture.
ING+Noun combinations are single-stressed when they can be paraphrased with "for" (ING is a gerund),
and double-stressed when they are paraphrased with "that" (then the ING form is a participle). So our
ING+Noun combinations could be quite problematic at times, such as in SLIDing DOOR, which may be
incorrectly associated with "a door for sliding" instead of a "door that slides".
There are some other patterns that may bring about some trouble for us in that they can present single-
or double-stressed versions, and these are:

ADJ + N (typically double-stressed)

N + N (typically single-stressed)
They are the most commonly found combinations in different vocabulary sets.

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Adjective + Noun patterns are typically double-stressed, as they act as collocations. However, there are
some combinations that have evolved from the individual meanings of their components, such as
GREENhouse and The WHITE House, and which act collectively as nouns, and happen to be single-
stressed. Another similar group is that of adjective + noun epithets, such as BLACKbeard or REDhead,
which are called "bahuvrihi" compounds (Bloomfield, 1930), paraphrased as "a person having X". These
compounds are exocentric, as we cannot consider any of the items to be a real head, nor in a relation of
hyponymy. But then we have equally complex compounds beginning with "high" or "hot", which may
present single- or double-stressed versions: compare HIGH coMMAND vs HIGH jump, or HOT poTAto vs
HOT line. In general the rule is that if these combinations can be paraphrased as collocations, or as
defining relative clauses, they tend to be double-stressed.

Noun + Noun patterns work differently, and we can perhaps make the following (very broad, exception-
filled) generalisations:

My own summary of rules based on Ortiz Lira (1998), Teschner and Whitley (2004) and Zenobi (1987, 1992)

There are, of course, other key combinations, such as double-stressed phrasal verbs versus single-stressed
prepositional verbs; or double-stressed acronyms versus single-stressed acronym + noun combinations.
Adverbs, adjectives and verbs are frequently used to make up combinations, most of which are double-
stressed, though not always. Ortiz Lira (1998) makes a comprehensive review of most compound word
stress patterns.

Getting your vocabulary sets ready for word stress work

After we have selected a theme, we can start brainstorming all the words that come to mind and that we
may want to teach our students in connection to the topic. We may collect our own list of items with the
same pattern by consulting picture dictionaries (Oxford Duden). Thanks to the Internet, we now have
some online alternatives.
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  Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary
 Language Guide (Some of the recorded versions are a bit doubtful, as some readings are oblique
and produce double-stressed versions of some otherwise single-stressed compounds)
 English Picture Dictionary
 Online Picture Dictionary
 Online Picture Dictionary II
 Google Images.

Check the stress pattern with a pronunciation dictionary (LPD or CPD, the Oxford Learner's Dictionary) or
online, Forvo, or YouGlish.
***
Some (very broad) generalisations
The City
In general, shops and buildings tend to be single-stressed, as N1 "type of" compounds or ING+N
combinations (SHOE shop, BOOKstore, SHOPPing centre). There are some interesting double-stressed
adjective + noun combinations, such as peDEStrian CROSSing. Street names finishing on "street" will be
single-stressed, but all others will tend to be double-stressed: OXford street vs. OXford CIRcus. Proper
names of buildings -except those finishing in "building"- will also tend to be double-stressed: emPIRE
STATE building vs. TOWN HALL.
Public and Private Transport
Most words connected to public transport tend to be "type of" combinations: RAILway station, TRAIN
ticket, TUBE map, AIRport. However, a quick glance through the Tube map of London may reveal lots of
interesting double-stressed placenames: COVent GARDen, CHARing CROSS. Parts of the car include "type
of" compounds and ING+N combinations: WINDshield, STEERing wheel.

Food and Drink

You will find a number of double-stressed compounds in menus, and the single-stressed exceptions as
well: toMAto juice vs. toMAto SOUP. However, I have heard some dodgy compounds in Britian, including
CHOColate CAKE (apparently both single- and double-stressed compounds are possible) and SAUSage roll.

Technology and the Internet

Many electrical appliances happen to have ING+N or N+N-er/-or combinations, such as WASHing machine,
and VACuum cleaner. Many electronic devices are made up of acronyms and acronym+noun
combinations: CD and CD player, for example.
The world of the Internet is made up of many phrasal verbs: LOG IN, SIGN UP. There are interesting Adverb
+ Verb combinations which change their stress as verbs or nouns, DOWNLOAD vs. DOWNload, for
example.
At School
School objects are generally "type of" or "instrument" compounds, also N+Ner combinations: PENcil case,
PENcil sharpener, HISTory book. School subjects may be double-stressed as acronyms (e.g.: P.E.) and/or
adjective+ N combinations: SOCial SCIences.
(Remember Learning Guide.org word stress lessons)
References
Ortiz Lira, H (1998). Word stress and sentence accent. Cuaderno de la Facultad Nº 16, Serie Monografías
Temáticas. Santiago: Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación.
Zenobi, N. (1992). A Basic Guide to English Prosody for Spanish Students at Teacher Training Schools.
Compiled by Alicia Gil and revised by Laura Mermoz. Buenos Aires: Instituto Superior del Profesorado Dr.
Joaquín V González.
Teschner, R., and S. Whitley (2004). Pronouncing English. A Stress-Based Approach with CD-ROM.
Washington: Georgetown University Press.