WORD STRESS: Pitch, Length, Loudness, and Technique

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 Definition of Stress:

One of the key factors guiding the correct pronunciation of English words is using the appropriate stress pattern. It is as crucial as pronouncing vowels and consonants accurately. Pronouncing a word with the wrong stress pattern is akin to uttering a Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba word with an incorrect tonal pattern.

So, what is stress? 'Stress' is the relatively greater energy or force employed in pronouncing a syllable, causing certain syllables to stand out within a word. Syllables articulated with more force are considered strong or stressed, while weak or unstressed syllables are produced with relatively less force (Elugbe 2000: 135). The prominence of stressed syllables manifests in four ways: pitch, length, loudness, and quality.

Let's delve into these factors:

Pitch:

Pitch, an auditory sensation ranging from high to low, assigns sounds to a scale. While every syllable has pitch, one with a notably different pitch is deemed stressed. If all syllables, except one, are articulated in a low pitch, the higher-pitched syllable is considered stressed. Pitch also plays a central role in intonation.

Length:

Length contributes to stress, with a syllable having greater length than others in a word being deemed stressed. Length is a significant determinant of stress.

Loudness:

If a syllable is articulated louder than others, it gains prominence, becoming the stressed syllable. However, changing loudness without affecting length, pitch, or quality is challenging.

Quality:

A syllable achieves prominence if it contains a vowel different in quality from surrounding vowels. This is typically achieved by placing a strong vowel amidst weaker ones, emphasizing the contrast in prominence.

Stress Placement:

As stress is exclusively placed on syllables, the division of syllables within a word is crucial for determining stress placement. Typically, stress is denoted by the placement of the mark ' before the stressed syllable.

The factors influencing stress placement in a word include:

1. The location of the nucleus (peak) of the word.

2. Pronunciation of the word.

3. The syllable structure.

Predicting Stress:

English lacks precise rules for stress placement, unlike languages such as French, Polish, or Czech. English stress rules are complex, but there is general agreement among speakers about where stress should be placed, despite some inconsistencies.

Analysis:

One-Syllable Words:

These pose no issues as, when pronounced in isolation, they naturally receive primary stress. (No competing syllables.)

- 'house

- 'thing

Two-Syllable Words:

The choice is relatively simple; either the first or second syllable will be stressed. For verbs, if the second syllable contains a long vowel, diphthong, or ends with more than one consonant, it is stressed:

- a'ttract

- a'rrive, a'pply

If the final syllable contains a short vowel and one or no final consonant, usually, the first syllable is stressed:

- 'open

- 'enter

Two-syllable adjectives follow a similar pattern.

Nouns:

Nouns generally adhere to a different rule. If the second syllable contains a short vowel, stress usually falls on the first syllable:

- 'money

- 'product

Three Syllables and More:

Determining stress becomes intricate beyond two syllables, with rules becoming arbitrary and exceptions abundant. A general hint is that weak syllables, particularly those with a schwa (ə), never carry stress.

Techniques for Word Stress in English:

In English, each syllable isn't pronounced with the same force. Instead, one syllable in a word is accentuated, spoken loudly, while the others are said quietly. Take the words "photograph," "photographer," and "photographic" - do they sound the same when spoken? No, because each word has a stressed syllable, and it's not always the same one, altering the shape of the word.

Word Analysis:

- "Photograph": 3 total syllables, stress on the 1st.

- "Photographer": 4 total syllables, stress on the 2nd.

- "Photographic": 4 total syllables, stress on the 3rd.

This stress pattern holds for all multi-syllable words: 'teacher,' 'Japan,' 'China,' 'above,' 'conversation,' 'interesting,' 'important,' 'demand,' etc. Unstressed syllables are considered 'weak' or 'small.'

Native English speakers focus on stressed syllables, enhancing pronunciation and comprehension. Key rules about word stress include: one word, one stress (two stresses mean two words), and stress always falls on a vowel.

Learning Word Stress:

When learning a new word, understand its stress pattern. Keep a vocabulary book noting stressed syllables. Dictionaries provide phonetic spelling, indicating stressed syllables with an apostrophe. For instance, the word "plastic" has 2 syllables, with the 1st stressed.

Example - Phonetic Spelling:

- Dictionary A: /plæs'tık/

- Dictionary B: /'plæs tık/

Stress in English:

Englishclub.com (2007) outlines two fundamental rules:

1. One word has only one stress; two stresses mean two words. Secondary stress, if present, is smaller.

2. Stress is applied only to vowels, not consonants.

Additional Stress Placement Rules:

1. Stress on First Syllable:

   - Example: Most 2-syllable nouns (PRESent, EXport, CHIna, TAble).

   - Example: Most 2-syllable adjectives (PRESent, SLENder, CLEVer, HAPpy).

2. Stress on Last Syllable:

   - Example: Most 2-syllable verbs (to preSENT, to exPORT, to deCIDE, to beGIN).

3. Stress on Penultimate Syllable (Second from End):

   - Example: Words ending in -ic (GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geologic).

   - Example: Words ending in -sion and –tion (teleVIsion, revelation).

4. Stress on Ante-penultimate Syllable (Third from End):

   - Example: Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy, and –gy (democracy, dependability, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy).

   - Example: Words ending in -al (CRItical, geoLOGical).

5. Compound Words:

   - Example: For compound nouns, stress is on the first part (BLACKbird, GREENhouse).

   - Example: For compound adjectives, stress is on the second part (bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned).

   - Example: For compound verbs, stress is on the second part (to underSTAND, to overFLOW).

Source: EnglishClub.com (2007)

Self-Assessment Exercise:

i. Indicate the stressed syllables in the following words: Failure, shame, doctor, education, community.

Conclusion:

Stress plays a crucial role in spoken English, particularly since English follows a stress-timed rhythm. The study of stress placement in English is essential due to its unique and intriguing techniques, albeit with some inconsistencies. Unlike languages such as Japanese or French, English utilizes word stress as an integral part of communication. It is not an optional addition but an inherent aspect of the language. English speakers employ word stress for rapid and accurate communication, especially in challenging conditions where hearing a word clearly may be difficult. Understanding the position of stress aids in comprehension.

Summary

Word stress serves as the magic key to understanding spoken English. Native English speakers instinctively use word stress, often unaware of its application. Non-native speakers not incorporating word stress when speaking to natives face challenges in understanding fast-paced speech and may, in turn, be challenging for native speakers to comprehend. The unit is dedicated to the analysis of word stress in English to address these issues.

REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS

Bamgbose, A. (1995). English in the Nigerian Environment. In

Bamgbose et al (ed). New Englishes: A West African Perspective,

Ibadan: Mosuro. pp 9 - 26

Elugbe, B. (2000). Oral English for Schools and Colleges. Ibadan:

Heinemann Educational books

English Club (2007) ‘Pronunciation’ http://www.englishclub.com

Kreidler, C. W. (1989). The Pronunciation of English. Oxford:

Blackwell.

Ladefoged, P. (1993).     A Course in Phonetics. 3rd. Ed. New York:

Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

O’Connor, J.D. (1989)        Better English Pronunciation. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press

http://www.ex.ac.uk/-bosthause/Lecture/hockett.htm

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