Word Stress - Guidelines
to read: Roach chapter 10
We first ask: is the word simple, complex or compound?
Simple: one morpheme: enter, deny, return, cotton, potato
Complex: bound or unbound stem with bound morphemes (affixes:
prefixes or suffixes): happy, goodness, unlock, capable, conversation
Compound: more than one unbound morpheme: greenhouse, handbag,
overcast, whitewash
This handout deals only with simple words. We have to consider the
following:
 the phonological structure of the syllable
 the number of syllables
 the grammatical category
Phonological structure: 'heavy' and 'light' syllables
A 'heavy' syllable contains a long (tense) vowel or a diphthong
OR ends in more than one consonant.
Otherwise light.
2 syllables: VERBS, ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS, PREPOSITIONS
(1) Second syllable stressed if heavy: apply, correct 01plai, k01rekt
(2) otherwise first syllable stressed: enter, open 1ent0, 10up0n
(if ǝʊ GOAT occurs in the second of 2 heavy syllables, it generally
becomes light: follow, borrow )
descend return frighten capture obey below around combine under quickly
perverse rapid respect complex* compact construct conduct refuse
2 syllables: NOUNS
(3) Second syllable stressed if its vowel is tense (not enough to be heavy
with a lax vowel): balloon, design b01lUn di1zain
(4) otherwise first syllable stressed: product, absence 1prodÆkt 1æbs0ns
complex compact construct conduct esteem return concept input intake*
effect* fortune* compound* command texture *refuse machine refrain
3 syllables: VERBS
(5) last syllable stressed if heavy: entertain, resurrect, introduce
ent01tein rez01rekt intr01djUs
(6) else stress on penultimate: encounter, remember, determine
iX1kaunt0 ri1memb0 di1tEmin
consider remodel undertake understand ascertain organize* realize*
idolize* specialize* supplement* terrify captivate*
contradict importune verify*
3 syllables: NOUNS, ADJECTIVES
(7) penultimate syllable stressed if heavy: potato, disaster, synopsis
p01teit0u di1zAst0 si1nopsis
(8) if the penultimate syllable is light and the final syllable has a lax
vowel (even if heavy), the first syllable is stressed: quantity, cinema,
intellect 1kwontití 11sinimA (1sinim0) 1intQlekt
accident marigold insolent erudite* enclosure banana wallaby character*
acrostic elephant albatross absolute professor photograph horizon
Exercise: transcribe and mark stresses:
NOUNS: accent person object primate remark defense attack surprise
mountain compound desire request record
VERBS: attack adapt remain believe create compound record mistake
polish chatter correct reckon deny object
Correlate with the 'rules' given above. Which words are exceptions?
See also: Roach chapter 11 section 6
COMPLEX WORDS
Roach chapter 11 sections 1-3
COMPOUND WORDS
Roach chapter 11 sections 4-5