secondary stress Flashcards
The rhythmic principle
A word in English cannot start with /00/ (i.e. with more than 1 unstressed syllable)
When an initial /00/ arises, how is it resolved?
➢ the rhythmic rule
➢ the deriving rule
➢ the stress-clash avoidance principle
The rhythmic rule
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.
What is the result of the rhythmic rule for the following words?
- 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?
The deriving rule
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).
Stress clash avoidance principle
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.
initial /00/, then what?
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
Stress is
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.
Give the stress pattern of preparation
/2010/
(rhythmic rule)
Give the stress pattern of localisation
/20010/
(deriving rule → localise)
Give the stress pattern of preservation
/2010/ (rhythmic rule)
Give the stress pattern of metaphysical
/20100/ (rhythmic rule)
Give the stress pattern of preoccupation
/02010/ (deriving rule → preoccupy)
What is a compound?
A lexical units that are made up of more than 1 item.
Orthographically, they can be spelled as 1, 2, or even 3 words
How many primary stresses does each compound have?
1 and only 1 primary stress; most compounds
also have one (or more) secondary stress(es).
Stress pattern for learned compounds (words of classical origin)
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
if a strong suffix is added to a learned compound, does it impose a stress pattern?
if a strong suffix is added
f a mixed suffix (-ous, -ist, -ism, -y) is added, what stress pattern is usually imposed?
Usually a /100/ stress pattern
phoˈtography, poˈdology, poˈdologist, venˈtriloquist, …
BUT: ˈpedagogy, ˈdemagogy, …
general rule for compound nouns
/1 2/
- ˈskyˌscraper
- ˈmountain ˌbike
- ˈcash disˌpenser
- ˈpress reˌlease
- aˈsylum ˌseeker
- ˈshopping ˌcentre
- ˈbank acˌcount
- ˈblood ˌpressure
- poˈlice ˌstation
- inˈsurance ˌpolicy
In what case is secondary stress on compound nouns dropped?
Secondary stress is dropped for /12/ disyllabic compounds: /10/
- ˈphonecard
- ˈgirlfriend
- ˈboyfriend
- ˈice cream
- ˈdoll house
- ˈrainbow
- ˈfirework
If compounds are no longer felt as such by native speakers, how is stress affected?
secondary stress is lost and the vowel is reduced
- cupboard
- necklace
- Frenchman
- Yorkshire
- Norfolk
- Bournemouth
- strawberry
- Ireland
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)
- Proper names of people: James McˈGregor, Denise ˈHarris
- Roads and places: Vicˌtoria ˈRoad, ˌOxford ˈAvenue
(but not with street: ˈOxford ˌStreet) - Names of institutions: ˌMarlborough hoˈtel, ˌGoldsmith ˈCollege
- If the 1st elem. is a place or time: ˌevening ˈmeal, ˌsummer ˈholidays
- 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.
Do disyllabic compounds with /12/ lose secondary stress?
yes → /10/
This loss does not apply to the exceptions (/21/)
Are stress monosyllabic syllabic items stressed in compound nouns?
According to the LPD? Although this remains a question.
