Page 16 - Acedemic_Comms_F5

Crafting meaning Academic Communication for Advanced Secondary Schools

stressed syllable. Stress is an essential feature of spoken English. Clear and accurate
pronunciation of all English words relies on correct articulation and placement of stress.
For example, stress is on the second syllable of the word banana. In this case, the first
‘na’ is pronounced with more energy than the other syllables in the word. Stress is marked
using the symbol (ˈ). This symbol is referred to as the stress mark. Therefore, the stressed
syllable in ‘banana’ is marked as ‘baˈnana’. Stressed languages are languages spoken with
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
differing degrees of emphasis on the words and syllables in the sentences. In English,
there are cases when the word class determines the stress pattern. For example, if a noun
and a verb are similarly spelt, the noun receives stress on the first syllable while the verb
receives stress on the second syllable.
Although stress and intonation are important parts of English pronunciation, learners
must remember that it would be impossible for anyone to speak naturally with a set of
rules in mind. The best way to improve one’s pronunciation is through constant contact
with native speakers of English, either through conversation, watching films and news
channels, or listening to the radio.
Classification of stress

There are two main types of stress when it comes to pronunciation: primary stress and
secondary stress.
(a) Primary stress
Stress is important in pronunciation because it emphasises a particular syllable
in a word or sentence. This emphasis involves making the syllable longer, louder
and higher in pitch compared to the others in the word. Stress plays a vital role in
communication, helping to differentiate between words and convey their intended
meaning effectively. Examples of primary stress in words are as follows:

Examples of primary stress in words:
1. Example: In the word “example,” the primary stress is on the second syllable, /
ɪɡˈzɑːmpəl/, making it longer, louder and higher in pitch compared to the other
syllables.
2. Dog: The word “dog”/ ˈdɒg/ has only one syllable, which has the primary stress,
making it louder and higher in pitch.

3. Apple: In “apple,”/ ˈæpəl/ the first syllable, “A,” has the primary stress, making
it louder and higher in pitch than the second syllable.
4. Organization: The word “organization”/ˌɔːɡᵊnaɪˈzeɪʃən/ has primary stress on
the fourth syllable, “zeɪ”, making it longer, louder and higher in pitch than the
other syllables.
Examples of primary stress in sentences:
1. I told you so! In this common saying, the primary stress is on the word “so,”
emphasising the point being made.
2. What are you doing? Here, the primary stress is on “you,” making it the focal
point of the question.

9
Student’s Book Form Five

30-Jun-24 11:02:02 AM
Academic Communication.indd 9 30-Jun-24 11:02:02 AM
Academic Communication.indd 9