American English Stress

The underlying pattern of English rhythm is that the stressed syllables of stressed words occur on relatively evenly spaced "beats." This concept is called the Rhythm Rule. This pattern is possible because words and sentences have three levels of stress:

1. stressed
2. unstressed
3. secondarily stressed

Stressed syllables and words

Within words, a single stressed syllable is given emphasis by any combination of being pronounced louder, for more time, and/or at a different pitch than surrounding syllables. A stressed syllable of a word is mostly static and unchanging.

Stressed syllables of words don't usually change.

stressed syllable    stressed syllable     ↓           ↓   vol un teer         in spi ra tion • • •           • • • •

Sentence stress is more flexible than syllable stress. Which word is stressed can change to fit the speaker's intended meaning. A word is stressed by emphasizing its stressed syllable more than the stressed syllable of surrounding words.

Stressed words of sentences are very flexible.

stressed syllable     ↓       Are  you  com ing?   • • • •     Or possibly: stressed syllable ↓           Are  you  com ing?   • • • •     Or even: stressed syllable   ↓         Are  you  com ing?   • • • •

In short, the stressed syllable of a word rarely changes, but stressed words of a sentence are greatly flexible.

Unstressed syllables and words

Equally important to the rhythm of English is the reduction of unstressed syllables and unstressed words. Syllables and even entire words can be reduced by any combination of using a more neutral vowel sound (schwa), decreasing the length of the vowel sound, and omitting sounds (possibly entire syllables).

In both words and sentences, unstressed syllables often occur next to stressed syllables.
	unstressed syllable    unstressed syllables   ↓               ↓   ↓     vol un teer         in spi ra tion   • • •           • • • •
	unstressed syllables   ↓   ↓     Are  you  com ing?   • • • •

Secondarily stressed syllables and words

Secondarily stressed syllables create a beat of less prominence than a stressed syllable and are not reduced. Their primary purpose is in maintaining the rhythm of English. Secondarily stressed syllables are usually separated from stressed syllables by at least one unstressed syllable. Within sentences, words can also be given a secondary stress, either to highlight important information or even merely to maintain rhythm.

Secondarily stressed syllables are usually separated from stressed syllables by at least one unstressed syllable.
	secondary stress    secondary stress ↓                 ↓       vol un teer            in spi ra tion   • • •             • • • •
	secondary stress ↓           Are  you  com ing?   • • • •

Stress

Word Lookup  
Definitions  

Syllable Stress

Syllable Drills  

Sentence Stress

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