JUXTAPOSITIONAL ASSIMILATION

Before p, b, m Before k, g Before ʃ, tʃ, dʒ, j

t →p : /tɔ:p pɔ:l/ t → k : /gek kɔ:t/ s → ʃ : /ðɪʃ ʃɒp/

d → b : /gʊb mæn/ d → g : /hi steig kɑ:m/ z → ʒ : /ðəʊʒ ʃɪps/

/ɪŋ keɪʃ ju ni:d ɪt/

n → m : /ɒm mʌndeɪ/ n → ŋ : /wʌŋ keɪs/
/həʒ jɔ: letə km/

● On Monday, he taught Paul how to be a good man.

○ /ɒm mʌndeɪ, hi tɔ:p pɔ:l haʊ tə bi ə gʊb mæn/

● He got caught in one case but he stayed calm.

○ /hi gɒk kɔ:t in wʌŋ keɪs bət hi steig kɑ:m/

● This shop has those ships you like.

○ /ðɪʃ ʃɒp hæz ðəʊʒ ʃɪpʃ ju laɪk/

COALESCENT ASSIMILATION

/d/ + /j/ → /dʒ/ and /t/ + /j/ → tʃ

● Why did you put yourself in that situation?
○ /waɪ dɪdʒu: pʊtʃɔ:sef ɪn ðæt sɪtueɪʃn/

STRESS IN ENGLISH WORDS

Stress in simple words

PREFIXES SUFFIXES

● Do not change the pattern: a-, be-,
for-, with- (a’new, for’get)
● Stress-demanding: out-, over-,
under-, up- (‘outfit, ‘underwear)
● Stress neutral: -able, -ible.- ator, -
dom, -ful, -hood, -ing, -ish, -ism, -ice,
-less, -like, -ment, -some, -wise
(‘boredom, ‘realism, ‘awesome,
‘government)

● Add a secondary stress: pre-, de-, ● Stress-shifting → sílaba que precede

re-, mis-, out-, over-, under- al sufijo: -eous, -ic(s), -ious, -ive, -
(‘precon’ceived, ‘misin’terpre graphy, -ial, -ian, -ion, -ity, -ify, -logy,
-uous (cou’rageous, mag’netic,
ge’ography, uni’versity)

● Stress-demanding → en el sufijo: -
aire, -ee, -eer, -esque, -ette, -ique, -
oon (‘million’aire, ca’reer, u’nique,
la’goon)
Single stressed compounds
1. Noun + noun:
a. Cuando el segundo sustantivo es quien realiza la acción. Eg: ‘screenwriter,
‘painkiller, ‘proofreader.
b. El primer sustantivo indica qué tipo de cosa es el segundo. Eg: ‘airline,
‘coffee break, ‘Christmas card.
■ Exception: few may have two stress patterns depending on the
meaning. Eg: ‘family name (apellido), ‘family ‘name (reputación). Eg:
‘paper bag (bolsa para el diario), ‘paper ‘bag (bolsa de papel).

2. Adjective + noun:
a. Stress en el adjetivo → long-established term. Eg: ‘whiteboard, ‘black people,
‘grandchildren, ‘highlight.

3. Noun + participle:
a. El sustantivo es el sujeto del participio. Eg: ‘sunburnt, ‘blue-coloured,
‘heartfelt, ‘pear-shaped.

4. Noun + verb:
a. Sustantivos combinados con verbos -ing formando sustantivos o adjetivos.
Eg: ‘breathtaking, ‘fire fighting, ‘language teaching.
■ ‘family ‘planning, ‘town ‘planning, ‘zebra ‘crossing.
b. Verbos con -ing combinados con sustantivo formando sustantivos. Eg:
‘sleeping pill, ‘swimming pool, ‘writing paper.
c. Verbos combinados con sustantivos formando sustantivos. Eg: ‘chat show,
‘firefly, ‘pickpocket.
d. Phrasal and prepositional verbs usados como sustantivos se vuelven single-
stressed. Eg: ‘breakthrough, ‘comeback, ‘cutout.

5. Otros:
a. Las palabras street, gate, foundation, society, building, etc.: ‘Bond Street,
‘Fishergate, ‘Empire State, ‘Ford Foundation.

Double stressed compounds

1. Noun + noun:
a. N2 of the N1 → ‘family ‘doctor (the doctor of the family). Eg: ‘ground ‘floor, ‘family
‘tree.
b. With the same referent → ‘student ‘teacher (He is the student teacher). Eg: ‘garden
‘city, ‘guardian ‘angel.
c. Proper names → ‘Noah’s ‘ark, ‘Morse ‘code, ‘World ‘Bank.
■ Exceptions: ‘home office, ‘Lake District, ‘Labour Party
d. N2 made of N1 → ‘gold ‘medal, ‘chocolate ‘biscuit, ‘brick ‘wall.
■ Exceptions: made up juice and cake. Eg: ‘chocolate cake.

2. Verb [-ing] + noun → The noun is the subject of the verb. Eg: ‘shooting ‘star, ‘leading ‘role,
‘sliding ‘door.
3. Adjective + noun:
a. Noun phrases / proper names. Eg: ‘best ‘man, ‘Middle ‘East, ‘general
‘knowledge.
■ Exception: ending in -man and -woman. Eg: ‘Englishman.
b. Adjectival -ed collocations that form adjectives. Eg: ‘open-’minded,
‘dark-’haired, ‘four-’legged.

4. Adjective + adjective → ‘dark ‘green, ‘Anglo-a’merican. The pattern CAN be altered in

context. Eg: ‘He was wearing a ‘dark green ‘sweater.

5. Noun + adjective → adjectives. Eg: ‘world’wide, ‘bottle ‘green, ‘tax-’free.

6. Adjective + verb [ing] → adjectives. Eg: ‘long-’lasting, ‘hard-’working, ‘easy’going.

7. Other combinations:
a. Self + verb [-ing] → adjectives. Eg: ‘self-sup’porting, ‘self-’catering.
b. Adverb + participles → adjectives. Eg: ‘far-’gone, ‘far-’flung.

COMPOUNDS NOUNS ADJECTIVES

Noun + noun:
-Second element is the doer
of the action (‘band leader).
-First element states what
type of thing it is (‘coffee
break).

Adjective + noun: long- Noun + participle: Noun is

established (‘grandparents) the subject (‘sunburnt, ‘blue-
coloured).
Noun + verb:
SINGLE STRESSED
-With final -ing verbs (‘sky
jumping, ‘language Noun + verb: verbs ending
teaching) in -ing (‘breathtaking).
-With preceding -ing verbs
(‘meeting point)

Phrasal and prepositional

verbs: nouns (‘comeback).

Compounds including
street, building, gate, etc.

DOUBLE STRESSED Noun + noun: Adj + adj: ‘dark ‘green

-N2 of the N1 (‘family (puede cambiar)
‘doctor)
-Same referent (‘student Noun + adj: ‘world’wide
‘teacher)
-Proper names (‘Noah’s Adj + noun: -ed collocations
‘Ark) (‘four-’legged)
-N2 is made of N1 (‘gold
 ‘medal)
Verb [-ing] + noun: noun is
the subject of the verb
(‘sliding ‘door)
Adj + verb [-ing]:
‘hard-’working.
Self + verb [-ing]: ‘self-
sup’porting.

Adjective + noun: noun Adverb + participle:

phrase / proper name ‘far-’gone.
(‘general ‘knowledge / ‘Red
‘Cross)

PROMINENCE

GENERAL RULE: content words are usually highlighted whereas structural words are left
non-prominent. Exceptions: meaning/attitude, information status, rythm and usage.

● Meaning: given the circumstances, we can highlight different words in a sentence to

produce different effects. Eg: ‘Does he ‘always have to ‘come ‘late? (annoyance).
● Information status: repeated items, synonyms and situationally given information
are items usually left non-prominent. Eg: Do you like ‘cats? No, I ‘hate cats. BUT,
new information, despite being predictable, is left prominent. Eg: The movie lasted
‘two ‘hours.
●
● Rhythm:
○ Three content words: the second is non-prominent. Eg: ‘dark brown ‘hair. But
if words are long, they are prominent. Eg: ‘nice in’telligent ‘woman.
○ Phrasal verbs:
■ Transitive: changes according to the position. Eg: ‘switch ‘on, ‘switch it
‘on, ‘switch the ‘radio on, ‘switch on the ‘radio.
■ Intransitive: both parts are prominent, unless preceded / followed by
another content word. Eg: ‘Get ‘up! / I ‘can’t get ‘up!
○ Double stressed compounds: loose one stress. Eg: ‘unknown ma’terial / the
ma’terial is un’known.
○ Letters and numerals: van de dos en dos. Eg: ‘BB’C / ‘199’5 / ‘35’17’06’29’79.
● Usage: the last content word is left non-prominent.
○ Event sentences: The ‘phone’s ringing!
○ Subject + passive verb: ‘Classes have been cancelled.
○ Final adverbial: There are ‘no ‘buses today.
○ Nouns + infinitives: I’ve got some ‘letters to write.
○ Wh- questions ending with a verb: ‘How are ‘things going?
○ Final defining relative clauses: ‘Here’s the ‘dress you lent me.
○ Noun + adj / part.: ‘Keep your ‘mouth shut.
○ Empty words: He ‘keeps ‘saying things.
○ Final vocatives / reporting verbs: What’s the ‘matter, Jim?
○ Reflexive and emphatic pronouns: ‘Look at yourself.
○ Idiomatic expressions: To be ‘rolling in money.