secondary stress

Question 1

The rhythmic principle

Answer 1

A word in English cannot start with /00/ (i.e. with more than 1 unstressed syllable)

Question 2

When an initial /00/ arises, how is it resolved?

Answer 2

➢ the rhythmic rule
➢ the deriving rule
➢ the stress-clash avoidance principle

Question 3

The rhythmic rule

Answer 3

If a word starts with 2 unstressed syllables,
then secondary stress is assigned to the first syllable:

ˌconstiˈtution, ˌadoˈlescence, ˌambiˈguity, ˌmatheˈmatical.

NB: also if it is an inseparable prefix. This happens systematically if the prefix has >1 syllable.
ˌintroˈduce, ˌcontraˈdict, ˌunderˈstand, ˌoverˈcome, ˌdisaˈllow,
ˌrepreˈsent, ˌcoinˈcide, ˌdisaˈppoint, ˌreproˈduce, ˌrecoˈmmend.

Question 4

What is the result of the rhythmic rule for the following words?

Answer 4

• Definition, represent, instrumental, universal, regularity.
• Alligator, cappuccino, psychological, inflammation,
  personality, economic.
• Characteristic, organisation, privatisation.
• Pronunciation, appendicitis, configuration, experimental,
  responsibility, association, communication, grammaticality.

The rhythmic rule does not work for the last set of words: why?

Question 5

The deriving rule

Answer 5

If a word starts with >2 unstressed syllables, then
secondary stress is assigned to the syllable carrying primary stress in the deriving word:

proˌnunciˈation (from proˈnounce), ˌcharacteˈristic (from ˈcharacter), aˌppendiˈcitis (from aˈppendix), inˌstantiˈation (from inˈstantiate), oˌrigiˈnality (from oˈriginal, not from ˈorigin).

Question 6

Stress clash avoidance principle

Answer 6

two adjacent stresses are
dispreferred. So, if the deriving rule results in a secondary stress which is adjacent to a primary stress, then the secondary stress is moved to the first syllable:

repreˌsenˈtation (from repreˈsent) → ˌrepresenˈtation.

Question 7

initial /00/, then what?

Answer 7

Iff 2 unstressed sylls, rhythmic rule applies (secondary stress on 1st syllable)

Iff more than 2 unstressed sylls, the deriving rule applies (secondary stress in deriving word), which sometimes entails a stress clash and thus the stress clash avoidance principle

Question 8

Stress is

Answer 8

ASSIGNED to, or IMPOSED on, or PLACED on a syllable.

When answering a question, give the reason(s) why stress is where it is, not explain how you determined the stress pattern of a word.

Question 9

Give the stress pattern of preparation

Answer 9

/2010/

(rhythmic rule)

Question 10

Give the stress pattern of localisation

Answer 10

/20010/

(deriving rule → localise)

Question 11

Give the stress pattern of preservation

Answer 11

/2010/ (rhythmic rule)

Question 12

Give the stress pattern of metaphysical

Answer 12

/20100/ (rhythmic rule)

Question 13

Give the stress pattern of preoccupation

Answer 13

/02010/ (deriving rule → preoccupy)

Question 14

What is a compound?

Answer 14

A lexical units that are made up of more than 1 item.
Orthographically, they can be spelled as 1, 2, or even 3 words

Question 15

How many primary stresses does each compound have?

Answer 15

1 and only 1 primary stress; most compounds
also have one (or more) secondary stress(es).

Question 16

Stress pattern for learned compounds (words of classical origin)

Answer 16

usually stressed on the 1st syllable (except: eˈlectro-):

ˈtelephone, ˈphotograph, ˈcatalogue, ˈmonologue.

The second item carries a secondary stress if it has more than 1 syllable:
ˈteleˌvision

Question 17

if a strong suffix is added to a learned compound, does it impose a stress pattern?

Answer 17

if a strong suffix is added

Question 18

f a mixed suffix (-ous, -ist, -ism, -y) is added, what stress pattern is usually imposed?

Answer 18

Usually a /100/ stress pattern

phoˈtography, poˈdology, poˈdologist, venˈtriloquist, …
BUT: ˈpedagogy, ˈdemagogy, …

Question 19

general rule for compound nouns

Answer 19

/1 2/

• ˈskyˌscraper
• ˈmountain ˌbike
• ˈcash disˌpenser
• ˈpress reˌlease
• aˈsylum ˌseeker
• ˈshopping ˌcentre
• ˈbank acˌcount
• ˈblood ˌpressure
• poˈlice ˌstation
• inˈsurance ˌpolicy

Question 20

In what case is secondary stress on compound nouns dropped?

Answer 20

Secondary stress is dropped for /12/ disyllabic compounds: /10/

• ˈphonecard
• ˈgirlfriend
• ˈboyfriend
• ˈice cream
• ˈdoll house
• ˈrainbow
• ˈfirework

Question 21

If compounds are no longer felt as such by native speakers, how is stress affected?

Answer 21

secondary stress is lost and the vowel is reduced

• cupboard
• necklace
• Frenchman
• Yorkshire
• Norfolk
• Bournemouth
• strawberry
• Ireland

Question 22

In what cases can compound nouns are exceptions to the general rule, bearing primary stress on the second element and following the /21/ pattern? (5)

Answer 22

1. Proper names of people: James McˈGregor, Denise ˈHarris
2. Roads and places: Vicˌtoria ˈRoad, ˌOxford ˈAvenue
   (but not with street: ˈOxford ˌStreet)
3. Names of institutions: ˌMarlborough hoˈtel, ˌGoldsmith ˈCollege
4. If the 1st elem. is a place or time: ˌevening ˈmeal, ˌsummer ˈholidays
5. If the 1st elem. is a material/ingredient: ˌleather ˈjacket, ˌcheese ˈsandwich
   • but regular with cake, juice, water, burger: ˈorange juice, ˈchocolate cake, ˈcheese ˌburger
   • and regular with an underlying ‘of’ structure: ˈbloodstain, ˈice cube, ˈraindrop, ˈsnowflake.

Question 23

Do disyllabic compounds with /12/ lose secondary stress?

Answer 23

yes → /10/

This loss does not apply to the exceptions (/21/)

Question 24

Are stress monosyllabic syllabic items stressed in compound nouns?

Answer 24

According to the LPD? Although this remains a question.