1. Zhou Yuhua Ningbo University of Technology
Unit 5-1 Word Stress 单词重音
Zhou Yuhua
Ningbo University of Technology

2. Contents 1 Warming-up Activity 2 Definition 3
Illustration and Practice 3
Assignment 4

3. Warming-up Activity Do you know how to read the following words?
economy
personality
phenomenon
simplification
photographic
objective
e`conomy
perso`nality
phe`nomenon
simplifi`cation
photo`graphic
ob`jective

4. Basic concepts--Syllable
A word can be divided into one or more syllables.
e.g. mum (1), mother (2), grandmother (3)
A syllable usually consists of a vowel-sound with a consonant before or after.
go (CV)
if (VC)
a (V)
ten (CVC)

5. Basic concepts--Stress
Stress may be defined as the degree of force or loudness with which a sound or syllable is articulated.
Longer: Saturday
Louder: Saturday
Higher: Sat
urday

6. Stress is the amount of force one puts on a syllable or word to give it importance.
Word stress
Sentence stress

7. Word Stress Kinds of stress Stress placement
Stress influence on meaning of words

8. Kinds of stress Primary stress Secondary stress
It is heavily stressed, usually marked with a vertical stroke (`) on the upper left hand corner of a syllable carrying the stress, as in `syllable, be`gin, under`stand
Secondary stress
It is stressed but subordinate to the primary stress, usually marked with a vertical stroke (,) on the lower left hand coner of a syllable concerned, as in , contri`bution ,inter`national
Zero stress refers to any syllable that receives no stress, such syllables are called unstressed syllables, eg. take, word
Certain English words have double stress (双重音) or even stress (均重音), as in `fif`teen `bur`ning

9. Stress placement For simple words
Falls on the first syllable (two syllables)
`common, `nation, `open, `sorry, `any
Falls on the third syllable from the end (three or more)
`universe, `relative, de`mocracy, e`conomy

10. Stress Placement (cont.)
For complex words (derivatives and compound words)
Falls on the syllable following the prefix
a`wake, be`side, com`plain, de`tect, ex`cite
Falls on the preceding syllable of the suffix
bi`ography, his`torian, syste`matic, popu`larity
No change
`reasonable, for`getful, `childhood, `painting

11. Stress Placement (cont.)
Double stress
,enter`tain , emplo`yee ,ciga`rette
Falls on the first element (compound words)
`bathroom `writing-desk `language teacher
`drugstore `bus-driver `record player

12. Stress influence on meaning of words
`absent
ab`sent
`present
pre`sent
`import
im`port
`increase
in`crease
`conflict
con`flict
`object
ob`ject

13. Practice
Listen to the following dialogue, use for stressed syllables and o for unstressed syllables to mark the following stressed words, for example: begin
A: When do you begin your holiday?
B: On the thirtieth of August.
A: That’s next Saturday!
B: We’re leaving in the afternoon.
A: And when are you coming back?
B: Saturday September the thirteenth.
A: Thirtieth?
B: No, thirteenth!

14. Passage Practice Rainforests—Wonders of Nature
Tropical rainforests are one of the earth’s richest and most fascinating areas. They are found in eighty-five countries in the world. These damp, dense forests thrive in Central and South America, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Although these areas cover just about ten percent of the earth’s surface, over forty percent of the world’s plant and animal species are found in the rainforests. Many of them are found nowhere else on earth.

15. The rainforest are very important to the world
The rainforest are very important to the world. It actually contributes to the climate of the areas in which they live, helping to sustain rainfall. The thick trees also help turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is necessary for humans to live. It is believed that the rainforests contain important plants that will cure the serious and deadly diseases of today.

16. Because of its vital contribution to the environment, and its limitless possibilities for scientific discovery, preservation of the rainforest should be a priority for people worldwide.

17. Assignment 1. Review this section; 2. Practice the word stress;
3. Practice the word stress in the passage—Rainforests—Wonders of Nature.

18. Thank You !