SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

B.Suprasegmentals
Unit II
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

What is Suprasegmentals?

The suprasegmentals are the

units that are larger than the
segmental.
Suprasegmental information
includes the pitch, loudness, and
length of sounds, and these
factors contribute to the rhythm
and stress patterns of spoken
language.
SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

An interesting phenomenon,
we find in English language, is
the change of stress or accent
from one syllable to another in
certain conditions. This is
noticed when a new word is
derived from an already
existing word. This shift in the
accent causes slight change in
pronunciation.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Examples

-the accent is on the second

syllable.

-the accent is on the first syllable.

-the accent is on the third
syllable.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Note:

There are exceptions too in the case of certain words, where

there is no shift in accent.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Examples

a) agree /ə - ˈgrɪː/ b) agreement /ə - ˈgrɪː - mənt/

Here, there is no shift in accent.

 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Note:

Another feature of English language is that stress/accent varies in cases

of words which are used both as noun/adj. and verb.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Examples

a) object (n) / ˈɒb - dzɪkt/ b) object (vb) /əb - ˈdzekt/

- a material thing that can be seen and touched. -say something to express one's disapproval of or
disagreement with something.
Example: Example:
He was dragging a large object. Unless you object, we'll postpone the meeting till next week.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Examples

present (n) / ˈpre - znt/ present (vb) /prɪ - ˈzent/

-the period of time that is happening now, not the past or -to give, provide, or make something known.
the future Example:

Example: I will present to everybody the candidates for the upcoming

The whole family is present. election.
SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

EXAMPLES

He has come. (falling intonation)

He has come? (rising intonation)

SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

Did you know?

The combination of stress and intonation gives the English language its
peculiar rhythm, and writers, especially poets, utilize heavily this feature of
language to achieve some effects in their writings

Let's practice!
Nothing Gold Can Stay
by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis
Someday
By Sarah
Someday you will cry for
me
Like I cried for you.
Someday you'll miss me
Like I missed you.
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

References
• https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/essentialsoflinguistics/c
hapter/3-8-suprasegmentals/
• https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poems/other/short/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1023653631013270/permalin
k/4722318507813412/?app=fbl

• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
 SPEC ELEC 2 | STYLISTICS AND DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
Unit II: Levels of Linguistic Analysis

THANK YOU
for listening!