primary stress Flashcards
Does the word have a separable prefix?
Yes? Secondary stress, then proceed without.
No? Proceed to weak suffix.
Does the word have a weak suffix?
Yes? Take them away and proceed
No? Proceed to strong suffix.
Does the word have a strong suffix?
Yes? Rightmost strong suffix imposes primary stress.
No? Proceed with analysis of the stem.
Analysis of the stem
1 syllable: /1/
2 syllables: /10/ for nouns or other words without fake prefix
/01/ doe non-nouns with fake prefix
3 syllables: /100/, except verbs with fake prefixes and Italianate words
The role of prefixes on word stress
prefixes can be true (separable) or false (inseparable). If they are true prefixes, they get secondary stress, and then you would need to proceed with the analysis of the rest of the word (i.e. analysis of weak then strong suffixes + syllable count)
true prefix
if it is separable, it is a true prefix
true (separable) prefixes
- Pre-paid
- Re-build, re-do
- Anti-climax, anti-social
- Ab-normal
- In-consistent, in-definite
- De-intoxicate, de-bug
- Un-do, un-natural
fake prefix
if it is inseparable (i.e. meaningless), it is a fake prefix
fake (inseparable) prefixes
- Pre-fer, pre-cede, pre-tend
- Re-fer, re-ject, re-cord
- Anti-cipate
- Ab-breviation
- In-cident, in-fer, in-sult
- De-tach, de-clare
- Un-less
- Pro-test, pro-nounce,
- Super-vise
- Over-come De-tach, de-clare
- Un-less
- Pro-test, pro-nounce,
- Super-vise
- Over-come
Effect of prefixes on word stress
- Yes, true (separable) prefixes :
secondary stress on the prefix & proceed with analysis of the root, e.g.
/,pre’paid/
/,re’build/
/,anti’climax/
/,ab’normal/
/,de’populate/
/,disem’bark/
/,un’natural/
NB that the vowel of a true prefix is not reduced, meaning it’s always strong.
Then, ask if there is a weak suffix?
- No? If there is no separable/true prefix, proceed, asking if there is a weak suffix?
After examining the prefix, which part of the word should be analyzed?
Whether the word has a WEAK suffix
What is the role of weak suffixes on word stress?
Weak suffixes do not affect
stress assignment. But strong suffixes do affect stress assignment (usually on the previous syllable).
Weak suffixes (do not interfere with stress)
[list]
-able*
-en
-er/or/ar
-ern
-ess
-ful
-hood
-ism,-ist
-ish (excl. verbs)
-ise/ize
-less
-like
-ly
-man
-ment
-ness
-some
-ward(s)
-age
-ful
-y
-dom
-ty
*exceptions for -able:
‘preferable,‘admirable.
*do not interfere with stress
weak suffixes (example words)
fashionable, comfortable
*exceptions for -able:
‘preferable,‘admirable.
frighten, brighten, wooden
singer, sailor, liar
western
goddess
beautiful, fruitful
childhood, manhood
racism, racist
Yellowish, childish
realise, anglicise, recognise
fearless
businesslike
happily, sadly
policeman
punishment, excitement
happiness, sadness
lonesome, quarrelsome
afterwards
weak suffixes (example words)
fashionable, comfortable
*exceptions for -able: ‘preferable,‘admirable.
frighten, brighten, wooden
singer, sailor, liar
western
goddess
beautiful, fruitful
childhood, manhood
racism, racist
Yellowish, childish
realise, anglicise, recognise
fearless
businesslike
happily, sadly
policeman
punishment, excitement
happiness, sadness
lonesome, quarrelsome
afterwards
-ist, -ism, -y
tend to impose
/100/ in learned compounds (cf.
mixed suffix -ous): ventriloquist,
photography, metabolism, …
Inflectional suffixes
- -s/es
- -ed
- -ing
*exceptions for -able:
‘preferable,‘admirable.
List of strong endings
(impose stress on the previous syllable)
-ic(s)
-ity/ety, -ify/efy
-ible/-igible
-ish (verbs only)
-sive
-ulous
-acal/inal
-ion family: i/e/u + V + (C)
-ion
-ial/-eal
-ian/-ean
-iar
-ium
-ient
-eous/-uous
-ual
weak suffixes (example words)
phonetics
variety, stupefy
comprehensible
establish
impressive
fabulous
maniacal, criminal
But: Arabic, catholic, lunatic, politics, …
But: impoverish
But: relative
information
artificial
Martian
peculiar
aluminium
convenient, proficient
courageous
individual
But: television (Greek compound)
But: ideal
But: European, Caribbean
But: spiritual
List of stressed endings
(impose stress on themselves)
-oo(C)
-ee, -eer
-ese
-ade
-ette
-aire
-self/selves
-ique/oque
-esque
-eur/euse
-ever
-teen
-oidal
-itis/-osis/-oma
list of words with stressed endings (self-imposed stress)
shampoo, balloon
agree, refugee, engineer
Chinese, Japanese
persuade, parade
cigarette, brunette
millionaire, questionnaire
yourself, yourselves
unique, antique, baroque
picturesque
entrepreneur, danseur
however
seventeen, eighteen
ellipsoidal, spheroidal
arthritis, tuberculosis,
hepatoma
But: ˈcuckoo, ˈLiverpool
But: ˈcoffee, ˈtoffee, coˈmmittee
But: ˈdecade, ˈmarmalade
But: ˈetiquette, ˈomelette
But: metaˈmorphosis
More than one strong suffix
In the presence of 2 ore more strong suffixes, the
placement of primary stress will be determined by the
rightmost of them:
in electr-ic-ian stress is determined by -ian,
in impress-ion-ist-ic stress is determined by -ic.
-ATE ending (strong but special)
-2 syllables
-is a verb
01
creˈate
-ATE ending (strong but special)
-2 syllables
-is not a verb
10
ˈSenate
But: 01
debate,
estate,
innate
-ATE ending (strong but special)
-greater than 2 syllables
-is a verb
-100 (/eɪt/)
eˈliminate
But: 1000
peregrinate,
tergiversate
-ATE ending (strong but special)
-greater than 2 syllables
-is not a verb
100 (/ət/)
ˈaccurate
But: 010
alternate (adj.)
Mixed suffixes
al, -ent/-ence, -ant/-ance, -ine, -ive, -oid, -ous
If preceded by a cluster:
they impose /-10/: triˈumphal, segˈmental, paˈrental, adoˈlescent, insˈtinctive, treˈmendous.
Mixed suffixes
al, -ent/-ence, -ant/-ance, -ine, -ive, -oid, -ous
If not preceded by a cluster:
– they impose /-100/ in opaque derivation: ˈgenerous, ˈmaintenance,
aˈnalogous.
–they are weak in transparent derivation: ˈmountain-ous, ˈodour-ous,
ˈpoison-ous, proˈfession-al, eduˈcation-al, eˈlectric-al, ˈmetric-al.
Mixed suffixes -ous and -y impose
/100/ for learned compounds (greek origin):
phoˈtography, diˈchotomous, floˈriferous, aˈnalogous.