Listening and Pronunciation: Word Stress & Vowel Length

English speakers store vocabulary items according to stress patterns. Learning a word must include learning its stress patterns. Speakers say a word in its correct stress pattern; the listener finds it easier to understand them even if each individual sound is not pronounced correctly. When a word is said with an incorrect stress pattern, the listener may spend time searching for the word in the wrong stress category. A stress pattern mistake causes a great deal of confusion.

Reasons for Word Stress Errors:

L1 transfer from learner’s first language. In English, stress can be on any syllable whereas in other languages it could be systematically either the first or last syllable for example.

1. Stress Rule for Two-Syllable Words- With the exception to verbs, two-syllable words are usually stressed on the first syllable.

2. Stress Rule for the “-ion” ending- the stressed syllable comes just before the “-ion” ending.

Example: prediction

3. Stress Rule for the “-ic” and “-ical” ending- the stressed syllable comes just before the “-ic” and “ical” ending.

Example: Atlantic

4. Stress Rule for Two Clear Vowels Together- When two vowels are next to each other in a word but in separate syllables, they are both clear. Usually, the second clear vowel has the stress, so it is longer. Example: Biology

5. Stress Rule for Two-Syllable Nouns and Verbs- When the word is a noun, its first syllable gets the stress. When the word is a verb, its second syllable gets the stress.

Noun: The politician when on record as a supporter for healthcare reform.

Verb: The politician recorded a commercial to support healthcare reform.

6. Stress Rule for two-word verbs- Two-word verbs are commonly stressed on the second syllable.

7. Stress Rule for compound nouns- English combines two nouns to make a new word. For example, the combination of “house” and “boat” to make “houseboat”. Compound nouns are produced as a single word with stress on the first part.

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com/ (C) 2009-10

Phonics, Syllables, Vowels and Vowel Rules

Phonics

Phonics are sounds that letters make that make up words.
• The English language tends to be difficult due to words being borrowed from other languages. (German, French, Latin, Greek, etc.)

Syllables
Syllables are a word or a part of a word with one vowel sound in it.

Vowels
Vowels create two sounds (long or short)

•When a short word has only one vowel, this word makes a short vowel sound .
• When a short word has two or more vowels, this word makes a long vowel sound.
• The closed syllable rule is when a vowel has a consonant after it that vowel always says its short sound.
• The sound of the short “a” changes just a little bit when “a” has a “m” or “n” after it.
• Rule of Silent E- at the end of a word does not make a sound. It usually changes the sound of the vowel before it. The vowel says it s own name, the long sound.
• Open syllable rule. A syllable is open when that syllable ends in a vowel with no consonant following it.

Consonants
• Blend: a group of two or more consonants, which stand side by side in a word and blend their sounds together.
• Diagraph: two consonants together making one sound.
• R control: when the vowel is controlled by R.
• Q: in English, “Q” always stands with “u”

http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10

Soft sound of “C” and “G”, Vowel Teams and the letter Y as a Consonant and Vowel

In English, the soft sound is usually heard when “C” or “G” has an E, I, or Y after it. The words "city" and "gem" are examples of this.

Also, in English, there are vowel teams that go by the name, diphthongs. These are two vowels that come together in a word to make only one sound. When two vowels come together, the first one says its own name, while the second one is silent. Here are a few examples:

Example: Long A (EI or AY)

The letter Y
The letter "Y" can act as a consonant and a vowel. As a consonant, it is at the beginning of a word. As a vowel, the letter "Y" is found in the middle or the end of a word.


http://daniel-j-stone.blogspot.com (C) 2009-10