English Stress

1. ENGLISH STRESS
by
Molina Gil
Grecia

2. WHAT IS STRESS?
This is the main question. Can you think of some
words that are related to stress? May be…

3. STRESS DEFINITIONS
Now, let us look at some general
definitions made by linguists. I will
underline the key words of each concept.
“Stress is a cover term for the
combined effects of pitch, loudness
and length- the result of which is
prominence” (Dobrovolsky, Aranoff &
O’Grady, 1996).

4. STRESS DEFINITIONS
“The pronunciation of a syllable or
word with more respiratory energy or
muscular force than other syllables or
words in the same utterance.”
(Richards & Schmidt, 2002).

5. STRESS DEFINITIONS
“It is the degree of force or loudness
with which syllables are spoken in
English.” (Quintana de Laya & Laya,
1994).
All these definitions give us an idea of
what stress is.

6. STRESS PERSPECTIVES
We have two forms in
which we can identify
stress.

7. Syllables undergo changes
according to the degree of
stress on them…
SYLLABLES QUALITIES
STRESSED
Have clear vowels
UNSTRESSED
Have mostly unclear
vowels
Have higher pitches
Have lower pitches
Longer duration
Shorter duration
communication
Look at this
example:
/
mjuˌ.nɪˌkeɪ.ʃən
kəˌ
Different levels
of stress in each
syllable

8. STRESS DEGREES
This means that all
syllables have stress, just
in different intensities. In
English there are about
four levels of Stress. Here
are the three most
important for words stress.
Let’s use a ladder to show
the levels:
P.D.: Secondary stress will be
explained later :D
Primary
Carried by the clear
vowel with the
highest pitch.
Tertiary
Carried by the clear
vowel which does
not have primary
stress.
Weak
Carried by the
unclear vowels
within the word
Kukanauza y Allegra (2008)

9. Since stress is an aural thing, we
need to use a conventional set
of signals to indicate stress in
written form. These are just
three of many systems:
STRESS SIGNALLING
Primary
Tertiary
Weak
Red Caps

/
Blue Lower
case

Black Lower
case

_
.

10. Look at a sample indication of
stress with each system.
STRESS SIGNALLING
judgeMENtal
/dʒʌdʒˌmen.təl/
Remember: if you transcribe the
word, you will see the sounds
and type of vowels.

11. STRESS SIGNALLING

 
judgemental
/dʒʌdʒˌmen.təl/
Many people use this one. However, some had found it unclear to determine the size of the
bubble and identify the sounds. :/
If you assign a different color for each stress, the indications would be accurate though 

12. This set of marks with these
color coding is the system we
will use in class. Get familiar
with it, use the proper colors
and start marking the stress
on words 
_
STRESS SIGNALLING
/
.
judgemental
/dʒʌdʒˌmen.təl/

13. When you mark the stress on a
word you must consider the
aspects mentioned by Roach
(1983, p. 8 of your DFII Book)
STRESS PATTERN
First, you have to identify the
primary stress. This is the easiest
stress to find. In this case, the
diphthong /oʊ/ carries the
highest pitch in the word. We
mark using a red crayon.
/
Hello: /həlˌoʊ/
.
Second, we identify the rest of
stresses. Here, this vowel is
considered to be an unclear
vowel. Thus, we will use the
symbol (.) to indicate weak stress.

14. Let us try again with a different
word!
STRESS PATTERN
First, we identify the primary stress in this
word. Where is it? Good. The / is the vowel
/
with the highest pitch in this word!
/.
_
Valentine: /væləntaɪn/
And once more, our little Schwa
gets a weak stress!
Second, is there any other clear
vowel? Taratatan… There is. It is
the diphthong /aI/. Tip: All
diphthongs are full/ clear vowels
(/ oʊ / is subject to exception).
This sound will carries a tertiary
level of stress

15. One last try: a longer word.
STRESS PATTERN
First, look for the primary stress in this word.
The diphthong /eɪ/ has highest pitch of all.
_. / .
Elevation: /eləveɪʃən/
Finally, if you see, there are just
two schwas left. They will both
carry a weak degree of stress.
Second, there is only one more
clear vowel and that is /e/. It has a
tertiary level of stress.

16. UNCLEAR VOWELS
Ok, how come we have a disctintion
between clear and unclear vowels?
This distinction is caused by the stress
itself.
When a syllable in a word is emphasized
highly the stress of rest of the syllables will
be deemphasized.
This effect is applied to the peaks of those
syllables: the vowels.
Unclear vowels are vowels that don’t have
a full realization or quality, they are more
or less neutral…

17. /  EXCEPTION
/
The diphthong / may occur
/
in stressed or unstressed
syllables.
It would be considered unclear
And will take a weak stress
when it occurs in unstressed positions:

18. HOMEWORK!!!
 Transcribe the following words in your notebooks
with the help of your dictionary and mark the stress
pattern of each one.
1. Acidic
2. Garlicky
3. Bitter
4. Creamy
5. Eggy
6. Flavourful
7. Gustatory
8. Insipid
9. Tangy
10.Watery
11.Tasteless
12.Bittersweet
13.Pungent
14.Grenadine
15.Cinnamon
16.Aniseed
17.Liquorice
18.Cocoa
19.Vanilla
20.peppermint