Word Stress - Guidelinesread: Roach Chapter 10

We first ask: is the word simple, complex or compound?

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple

ComplexCompound:

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple : one morpheme: enter, deny, return, cotton, potato

ComplexCompound

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple : one morpheme: enter, deny, return, cotton, potato

Complex : bound or unbound stem with bound morphemes (affixes: prefixes or suffixes): singer, goodness, unlock, capable, conversationCompound

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple : one morpheme: enter, deny, return, cotton, potato

Complex : bound or unbound stem with bound morphemes (affixes: prefixes or suffixes): singer, goodness, unlock, capable, conversationCompound: more than one unbound morpheme: greenhouse, handbag, overcast, whitewash

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple: complicated rules, many exceptions

Complex: fairly simple and fixed rules(see Roach)Compound: fairly simple rules, not many exceptions (see Roach)

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple: complicated rules, many exceptions

I know of no simple or exceptionless set of rules, but try googling word stress:

http://oak.ucc.nau.edu/tn24/wordstress/wstresstext.html

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/pron/word_stress.shtml

1. SIMPLE WORDSWe have to consider the following:

the phonological structure of the syllablethe number of syllablesthe grammatical category

1. SIMPLE WORDSPhonological structure: 'heavy' and 'light' syllables

A 'heavy' syllablecontains a long (tense) vowel or a diphthong ORends in more than one consonant.Otherwise the syllable is light.

1. SIMPLE WORDS

1. SIMPLE WORDS

1. SIMPLE WORDS

1. SIMPLE WORDS

Word Stress - GuidelinesSimple : one morpheme: enter, deny, return, cotton, potato

Complex : bound or unbound stem with bound morphemes (affixes: prefixes or suffixes): singer, goodness, unlock, capable, conversationCompound: more than one unbound morpheme: greenhouse, handbag, overcast, whitewash

2. Complex WordsRoach, Chapter 11Unclear distinction, not always useful legal illegallawful unlawful

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11

stem + affix (prefix, infix, suffix)Is the affix productive (=common, can be applied to new words) ?

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effect:comfort + able, wonder + ful -age, -al, -en, -ing, - ish

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effectEffect the stress-patternTake the stress themeselves

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effectEffect the stress-patternTake the stress themeselves

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effectcomfort - able, wonder - ful -age, -al, -en, -ing, - ish

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effectEffect the stress-pattern.attract the stress to the syllable before the suffixphoto - graphy, perfect ion, tranquil ity-eous, -ious, -ial, -ic, -ive

2. Complex Words: suffixesRoach, Chapter 11Suffixes:Have no effectEffect the stress-patternTake the stress themeselvesrefugee, mountaineer, Portuguese, cigarette, picturesque

3. Complex words: two stemsRoach, Chapter 11suitcase, sunrise, toothbrushtooth-brush, car-ferry, hay-fever, Web page, hay fever, summer time

3. Complex words: two stemsRoach, Chapter 11Variable stressits upstairs, an upstairs bedroomhes bad-tempered, a bad-tempered man

3. Complex words: two stemsRoach, Chapter 11Word-class pairs, p110insult, objet, protest, record