Lesson 6 Word and Sentence Stress

Besides the significant segmental sounds that come one after another in a stream of speech,
there are other features of sound that can affect meaning. These are the suprasegmentals- stress,
intonation, pitch and juncture.

WORD STRESS OR ACCENT

English speech is characterized by the recurrence of stressed and unstressed syllables

which produces rhythm in utterance.

There are two kinds of stress – word stress or accent and sentence or sense stress. The first
is the prominence on certain syllables in a plurisyllable word while the second is the prominence
given to a word or words in a sentence depending on intended meaning. The greater the force used,
the greater the stress. For example, in saying the word master, the stress is on the first syllable
because (a) mas is said louder than ter, (b) mas is higher in pitch than ter and (c) mas is said longer
than ter.

Therefore, the elements of stress are:

➢ Loudness or intensity
➢ Pitch
➢ Duration or length

Generally, monosyllables, if they occur in isolation, have primary stress. Plurisyllabic may
have different pitch patterns.

TYPES OF ACCENT. English has four kinds of word stress or accent:

1. PRIMARY STRESS – This level is the strongest stress in a plurisyllable word. The vowels
are given full value. In the word comMITtee, the second syllable has the primary stress.

2. SECONDARY – The vowels are still given value but there is less loudness. In the word
PRImary, the first syllable has the primary stress while the second syllable has the
secondary stress.

3. TERTIARY – In this level, there is little loudness and the vowels are weakened. The first
syllable in the word recolLECtion has the tertiary stress while the third has the primary
stress.

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 4. WEAK - The intensity is very weak. The vowels are obscured. The schwa sound has this
type of stress. For example, the noun-forming suffix -TION which bears the schwa sound
has a weak stress as in the words association, condemnation, and realization.

DRILL ON WORD STRESS/ACCENT

Read the words in each set following the pitch pattern.

1. Words with the Primary Stress on the First Syllable

absolutely category execute miniature preferable

accent Catholic exit (n) menu primary
accuracy cemetery fashionable minutes profile
adversary centimeter favorable miserable proteins
allegory ceremony February monastery publish
alternate character gondola necessary salivary
amicable charitable govern negligible seconded
ancestors circumstances impious nominative secretary
Arabic colleague indigent noticeable senator
architecture comfortable interview orator spiritual
argue comparable irritable orchestra tabernacle
Aristotle controversy lamentable participle talented
benefited deify literature patrimony temperature
capillary delicacy melancholy pedagogy testimony
capitalist dysentery military pedestal toward
carton eligible memorable practically trespasses

2. Words with the Primary Stress on the second Syllable

abbreviate champagne finale participant

accessory coherence harangue repatriate
accomplishment Chinese geography professor
administer competitor herculean satiety
adventure constituent impiety semester
affiliate cooperate indeed sincerely
agreement determine ingredients specific
Aladdin desert(v) inseparable taboo
allergic dessert insurance tattoo
alleviate detour occur theatrical
aluminum develop pacific thermometer

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 alveolar development paralysis tribunal
associate dispensary judiciary unfavorable
attorney distinguish July violinist
bamboo distribute lapel vocabulary
brochure duet librarian boutique
cartoon economize lieutenant explicit
cashier emergency macabre exam
certificate establish meringue condolence
chagrin exemplary naive

3. Words with Primary Stress on the Third Syllable

aborigine attache’ debonair Reminiscent

adolescence beneficiary documentary Resume
antecedent cafeteria guarantee Supervisory
apropos circumvent notoriety therapeutic
ascertain coalition parliamentary continuity

4. Words with Primary Stress on the Fourth Syllable and Secondary Stress on the Second

abbreviation association perpetuation

administration denunciation repatriation
alleviation evacuation realization
appreciation negotiation enunciation

GUIDE TO WORD STRESS

There are also some general rules that guide word stress.

1. Most two-syllable words are stressed on the first component.

never cocoa talent summon

finish menace argue actor
purchase colleague accent absence

However, there are some two-syllable words of French origin which may be
accented on either syllable like the words,

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 elite - elite ballet - ballet debris - debris

2. Compound nouns are accented on the first component.

campfire father-in-law drugstore passport

anthill man-about- knockout headache
town

Meanwhile, compound verbs have a primary stress on the second component and
a secondary stress on the first component.

overflow outdo outshine

overcome understand

Read the following sentences:

The teacher always underscores the importance of overcoming nervousness.

Belle outshines her contender in the knockouts.

3. Intensive-reflexive pronouns are stressed on the second component.

myself ourselves
yourself themselves

4. Numbers ending in –teen may receive the primary stress on either syllable but it is best to
stress them always on the last syllable to distinguish them clearly between thirty and
thirteen.
forty fourteen seventy seventeen
fifty fifteen eighty eighteen
sixty sixteen ninety nineteen

Clearly differentiate the numbers in the following sentences:

He rides not only sixteen but sixty miles everyday.

Niles is thirteen years old; his uncle is thirty.

5. Some words show a shift in stress to indicate their use either as a noun or a verb. The
noun is accented on the first syllable while the verb is accented on the second syllable.

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 NOUN VERB
concert concert
conduct conduct
import import
rebel rebel
convert convert
contest contest
record record
accent accent
desert desert
permit permit
object object

Do not fail to differentiate the nouns from the verbs in the following sentences.

Are you going to contest the record made?

Accent your attire with hand-made accents.
He objected to the use of synthetic objects in class.

6. Words ending in the suffixes –tion, -sion, -is, -ical, and –ity have a primary stress on the
syllable preceding the ending.

association historic instruction

economic extension reliability
validity communication

7. When a suffix is added to a word, the new form is stressed on the same syllable as the
word from which it was derived.

happy happiness economic economical

guitar guitarist indict indictment
assign assignment honor honorable
abandon abandonment confess confession

Some words do not follow this rule like diplomat – diplomacy.

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 8. In complete names, the last name receives the primary stress. When a name is preceded
by a title, the surname receives the strong stress.

John F. Kennedy Mr. Arthur Cruz

Corazon Aquino Professor Tina Lim
Joe Biden Vice President Leny Robredo
Keith Urban Doctor Jesse Abellar

9. Certain ADJECTIVE+NOUN combinations may be used either as compound nouns or as

noun modification structures. When used as nouns, they are stressed on the first component
and when used as modification structures, they are stressed on the second component.

A greenhouse – a plant nursery

A green house - a house painted green
A grandfather – father of a parent
A grand father – a wonderful father
A moving van – a van for transferring furniture
A moving van – a van that is moving
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ACTIVITY

A. Mark for stress differentiating the verb and the noun. Read the sentences applying the stress
1. The teacher records the scores in her class record.
2. How is the progress report progressively?
3. A convict cannot be convicted twice for the same offense.
4. Will you permit me to take the examination if I get a permit from the Accounting Office.
5. The dean’s office is conducting a survey on the conduct of students.
6. Conflicting views would not resolve the conflict.
7. The man was deserted by his companions in the middle of the desert.
8. Please give me the address of the President so I could address our problem to him.
9. The Catholic convert did not really want to be converted to another religion.
10. There is no need to object to the new object of discussion.

A. Mark the primary stress, then read the sentence.

1. Is it possible to (perfect) one’s speech?
2. (Contrast) the words pool and pull.
3. The (produce) this year is better than that of the previous year.
4. Our country is gaining much from (imports).
5. Their ideas always (conflict).

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 B. Mark the primary stress of the numbers in the following sentences. Read the sentences.
1. Thirteen not thirty is considered a lucky number.
2. There were forty thieves not fourteen.
3. Have you read the book Seventeen written in the seventies?
4. My cousin is sweet sixteen but grandma is sweeter sixty.
5. The delivery man delivered eighteen cartons of milk at the supermarket.
6. She celebrates her birthday on September 16.
7. The students are given fifteen days to prepare the report.
8. We are holding a speech festival on the seventeenth. There are seventeen
participants.
9. The remaining portion of her order is arriving on the eighteenth. Only eighteen boxes
have arrived.
C. Compound Words. Be sure to stress the correct words in the compound nouns.
1. I understand we are going by the way of the Lacson underpass.
2. Last week the underworld underwent a change of leadership.
3. Be sensitive to the undertones and overtures of communication.
4. Blot out the spilled ink. Blot it out before it leaves a big stain.
5. Drive-ins are convenient for car owners. They can just drive in and order
refreshments from the car.

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SENSE STRESS

The other kind of stress is sense stress. This is the prominence given to words in a sentence
in relation to other words. The normal tendency is for the heaviest stress to fall on the content word
toward the end of the sentence. However, this is not always the case. To produce rhythm in the
sentence, all the content words are stressed and the syllables of function words obscured. The
unstressed syllables are considered unimportant because the meaning of the sentence does not
depend on them.

The following are the content words which generally carry idea or thought.
nouns
a) verbs except auxiliary or helping verbs
b) adjectives
c) adverbs
d) demonstratives
e) interrogatives (when they are used to start questions)

The following function words are subordinated because they merely show grammatical
relationships.

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 a. articles
b. auxiliary verbs
c. prepositions
d. pronouns
e. conjunctions

To subordinate or unstress these words, they should be:

a. said quickly;
b. said with lower tone or pitch
c. said with less volume

Read the sentences stressing content words while unstressing function words.

1. The meeting is adjourned prematurely.

2. The big boy carried his heavy books to school.
3. The sale has been consummated.
4. She sounds bitter.
5. It is a much publicized movie.

KINDS OF SENSE STRESS

A. Assertive Stress
This stress is given to operative or function words which carry the meaning or
advance the thought in connected speech.
A word mentioned again is ordinarily subordinated and every new idea brought
forth in the same continued expression is given emphasis.

Example:
I indict the Spanish encomendero for inventing taxes impossible to bear.
I indict the usurer for saddling me with debts impossible to pay.
I indict the irresponsible radical leaders who undermine with insidious
eloquence the confidence of my kind in the government.

B. Antithetic Stress
This is emphasis given to an idea that is pinpointed by means of contrast
whether specifically mentioned or merely implied.

Examples:
The key is on my table, not in the drawer. (specifically mentioned)
Buy me a red shirt. (implied)

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 C. Intensive Stress
This is the type that by means of repetition, emphasizes an idea. This stress is
given to words of special importance in a series. It is also used with the effusive force.

Example:
But if you will not grant me this
If you will not grant me this last request, this ultimate demand,
Then build a wall around your home. Build it high! Build it strong!
Place a sentry on every parapet! For I who have been silent these three
hundred years will come in the night when you are feasting, with my cry and
my bolo at your door. And may God have mercy on your soul!

D. Climactic Stress
This type of stress rises to a climax with each stress given greater intensity than
the last. This stress is used when there is great emotion involved.

Example:
We will never surrender, never, never, never!
I came. I saw. I conquered.
E. Vanishing Stress
By noticeably decreasing the degree of loudness of significant words, emphasis is
gained. This stress is applied by creating a fading sound that vanishes like an echo. It is
usually applied to passages or selections that that indicate pity or sorrow.

Example:
Blow bugles, blow, set the wild echoes flying,

Blow, bugles, blow, answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying.

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TASK

Choose any set from the given summarized “how to’s” adapted from a blog. Plan on how to
deliver it focusing on sense stress appropriate to the meaning intended. For the longer how-to
lists, you may just choose up to 5 items.

The Best Summary of How to Win Friends and Influence People

(Adapted from https://fs.blog/2012/07/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people/)

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A brief, no fluff, summary of Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Techniques in Handling People

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Six ways to make people like you

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.

2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound
in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
6. Make the other person feel important – and do it sincerely.

Win people to your way of thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”
3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Let the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to the nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.

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