English stress, strong and weak forms

Stress = when a syllable is pronounced with more force than the rest of the syllables. Primary stress is marked by an apostrophe ‘, secondary stress by comma. Czech language has stress always on the first syllable but English stress depends on various factors:

1. Number of syllables 2. Word formation process 3. Part of speech 4. The neighbourhood where the word is situated = dictionary stress is not ultimate because it can change in connected speech!

Complex words:

Stress carrying suffixes carry the stress (employee, Japanese, unique, entertainer)

Neutral suffixes do not change the stress (comfort – comfortable, wonder – wonderful)

Stress moving suffixes move the primary stress on the last syllable of the stem. (advantage - advantageous, courage - courageous)

Compound words:

First element adjectival, stress on second element (loudspeaker, bad-tempered, first-class)

First element nominal, stress on first element (sunrise, tea-cup, suitcase)

black bird (bird that is of black colour) x blackbird (kos)

Word class pairs: Stress on the second syllable if it is a verb, stress the first syllable if it is a noun or adjective.

N: import / V: import     N: ´abstract (výtah) / V: to ab´stract (vytáhnout)

N: desert (poušť) / V: de´sert (dezertovat)

Strong and weak forms

English rhythm is possible thanks to its weak forms. If we would pronounce all words strongly or omitted articles, the time needed for pause would perish, breaking the rhythm. Parts of speech that are pronounced weakly are articles, prepositions, pronouns, auxiliary verbs, that (as conjunction and relative pronouns in defining clauses, as demonstrative pronouns it is a strong form), than (better than me, do not confuse with then) and there (can function as dummy notional subject or adverbial as strong form: There is a man over there.) Words carrying the meaning are strong forms!

He has a book. (strong form - has as primary verb)  Tom has arrived at 5. (weak form - has as auxiliary verb) Have you heard about it? (strong auxiliary have – initial position!) English articles are in 99% unstressed, the only exception is putting emphasis (THE /dí/ James Bond – ten James Bond. It was A /ei/ poetry of recent years.)