To What Extent is Word Stress Predictable in English

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book To What Extent is Word Stress Predictable in English by David Stehling, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: David Stehling ISBN: 9783656319696
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: November 26, 2012
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: David Stehling
ISBN: 9783656319696
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: November 26, 2012
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: A, University of Wales, Bangor, course: Phonology, language: English, abstract: In many languages word stress is quite predictable: in Czech the first syllable of a word always carries the main stress. In French the ultimate syllable is the most prominent each time. The penultimate syllable is constantly stressed in Polish. As can be seen, there are strict general rules with respect to a word's stress. In English, however, the stressing of a lexeme appears to be arbitrary rather than following certain stress rules. The spelling does not indicate a word's pronunciation, let alone its stress. Moreover, the stress may even differ within the same word. Thus, thir'teen can be stressed on the last syllable, but in an environment of another word, e.g. 'thirteen 'pints, it can also be pronounced with a prominent first syllable in order to keep eurhythmy. Nevertheless, it looks like native speakers have a perceptual ability to say how many syllables a word has and to tell which syllable receives the most stress. Therefore, Carr (1999) considers three trisyllabic non-English words: Gigondas, Zaventem and tavola. The author points out that English speakers always tend to stress the penultimate syllable mispronouncing each of theses words. Why do speakers with English as their mother tongue react in this way? Is this a proof of generalisation and existing stress patterns? In this essay it is discussed whether the primary stress of singular words has to be learned, e.g. like their spelling or the sequence of their phonemes, or if the stressing of a lexeme follows internalized rules (due to a lack of space, secondary stress shall be excluded here). For a more concise analysis of the issue, three main bases concerning primary stress patterns are examined: the syntactic, morphological and phonological information of a word.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: A, University of Wales, Bangor, course: Phonology, language: English, abstract: In many languages word stress is quite predictable: in Czech the first syllable of a word always carries the main stress. In French the ultimate syllable is the most prominent each time. The penultimate syllable is constantly stressed in Polish. As can be seen, there are strict general rules with respect to a word's stress. In English, however, the stressing of a lexeme appears to be arbitrary rather than following certain stress rules. The spelling does not indicate a word's pronunciation, let alone its stress. Moreover, the stress may even differ within the same word. Thus, thir'teen can be stressed on the last syllable, but in an environment of another word, e.g. 'thirteen 'pints, it can also be pronounced with a prominent first syllable in order to keep eurhythmy. Nevertheless, it looks like native speakers have a perceptual ability to say how many syllables a word has and to tell which syllable receives the most stress. Therefore, Carr (1999) considers three trisyllabic non-English words: Gigondas, Zaventem and tavola. The author points out that English speakers always tend to stress the penultimate syllable mispronouncing each of theses words. Why do speakers with English as their mother tongue react in this way? Is this a proof of generalisation and existing stress patterns? In this essay it is discussed whether the primary stress of singular words has to be learned, e.g. like their spelling or the sequence of their phonemes, or if the stressing of a lexeme follows internalized rules (due to a lack of space, secondary stress shall be excluded here). For a more concise analysis of the issue, three main bases concerning primary stress patterns are examined: the syntactic, morphological and phonological information of a word.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book EU-humanitarian assistance affairs: The utility of 'actorness' and 'presence' for conceptualising this EU-foreign policy-area by David Stehling
Cover of the book Australia's Gulf War Commitment 1990-91 by David Stehling
Cover of the book Children and clothing by David Stehling
Cover of the book Differences of culture by David Stehling
Cover of the book The Three Gorges Dam (Der Drei Schluchten-Damm) by David Stehling
Cover of the book The Criticism of Richardson's novel 'Pamela' by Henry Fieldings' 'Shamela' by David Stehling
Cover of the book The role of the mass media in influencing political process by David Stehling
Cover of the book The Right to Fair Trial under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights in Immigration Law Cases in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Turkey by David Stehling
Cover of the book Meanings of the White Whale (Herman Melville: Moby Dick) by David Stehling
Cover of the book Is a lurker always lurking? by David Stehling
Cover of the book Ethical problems concerning organ transplantation in '21 Grams' by David Stehling
Cover of the book The Bulgarian Financial Crisis of 1996-1997: A Crisis of Transition by David Stehling
Cover of the book The Rosenbergs - Victims of their time? by David Stehling
Cover of the book China's projected image - A structured, focused comparison in the United States of America by David Stehling
Cover of the book Language Death by David Stehling
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy