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Questions and Answers
What is the primary effect of word stress on words?
What type of word stress is common in words like 'communicate' and 'celebrate'?
What factor can change the stress pattern of a word?
What is the typical stress pattern for monosyllabic words?
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Why is correct word stress important in communication?
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What type of word stress is common in words like 'banana' and 'cantaloupe'?
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Study Notes
Word Stress
Definition
Word stress refers to the emphasis placed on a specific syllable or syllables in a word, affecting its pronunciation and meaning.
Types of Word Stress
- Initial stress: Stress falls on the first syllable (e.g., ' photograph, 'record')
- Final stress: Stress falls on the last syllable (e.g., 'banana', 'cantaloupe')
- Penultimate stress: Stress falls on the second-to-last syllable (e.g., 'communicate', 'celebrate')
- Antepenultimate stress: Stress falls on the third-to-last syllable (e.g., 'unbelievable', 'unforgettable')
Factors Affecting Word Stress
- Etymology: Words borrowed from other languages often retain their original stress pattern.
- Suffixes and prefixes: Adding suffixes or prefixes can change the stress pattern of a word.
- Word class: Nouns, verbs, and adjectives often have different stress patterns.
Word Stress Rules
- Monosyllabic words: Typically have no stress or equal stress on both syllables.
- Disyllabic words: Typically have stress on the first syllable.
- Polysyllabic words: Follow the patterns mentioned above (initial, final, penultimate, or antepenultimate stress).
Importance of Word Stress
- Pronunciation: Correct word stress is essential for accurate pronunciation.
- Meaning: Stress can change the meaning of a word (e.g., 'record' as a noun or verb).
- Communication: Proper word stress helps convey intended meaning and facilitates effective communication.
Word Stress
- Word stress refers to the emphasis placed on a specific syllable or syllables in a word, affecting its pronunciation and meaning.
Types of Word Stress
- Initial stress occurs when the stress falls on the first syllable (e.g., 'photograph', 'record')
- Final stress occurs when the stress falls on the last syllable (e.g., 'banana', 'cantaloupe')
- Penultimate stress occurs when the stress falls on the second-to-last syllable (e.g., 'communicate', 'celebrate')
- Antepenultimate stress occurs when the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable (e.g., 'unbelievable', 'unforgettable')
Factors Affecting Word Stress
- Etymology affects word stress, as words borrowed from other languages often retain their original stress pattern
- Adding suffixes or prefixes can change the stress pattern of a word
- Word class affects word stress, with nouns, verbs, and adjectives often having different stress patterns
Word Stress Rules
- Monosyllabic words typically have no stress or equal stress on both syllables
- Disyllabic words typically have stress on the first syllable
- Polysyllabic words follow the patterns of initial, final, penultimate, or antepenultimate stress
Importance of Word Stress
- Correct word stress is essential for accurate pronunciation
- Word stress can change the meaning of a word (e.g., 'record' as a noun or verb)
- Proper word stress helps convey intended meaning and facilitates effective communication
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Description
Test your understanding of word stress in English language, including initial, final, penultimate, and antepenultimate stress. Learn how to identify and pronounce words correctly.
