Page 36 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 1: Simple Rule for Pronunciation & Intonation

Rule 3: Stress on penultimate syllable Notes
Rule Example
Words ending in -ic GRAPHic, geoGRAPHic, geoLOGic
Words ending in -sion and -tion teleVIsion, reveLAtion

Note For a few words, native English speakers don't always "agree" on where to put the
stress.

Examples: Some people say teleVIsion and others say TELevision.

CONtroversy and conTROversy.
Rule 4: Stress on ante-penultimate syllable
Rule Example
Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phy and -gy deMOcracy, dependaBIlity, phoTOgraphy, geOLogy
Words ending in -al CRItical, geoLOGical
Rule 5: Compound words

Rule Example
For compound nouns, the stress is on the first part BLACKbird, GREENhouse
For compound adjectives, the stress is on the second part bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned
For compound verbs, the stress is on the second part to underSTAND, to overFLOW
Rule 6: Two Word Stress

Knowing when and where to stress the words you use is very important for understanding, and
therefore, as part of a good accent. A clear example is that of stress in two word expressions.
According to whether it is an ordinary two-word expression or a special, set expression, the place
of the stress changes. In an ordinary expression the two words are used to describe something
like a "white HOUSE" (meaning a house that is painted white, and not blue or gray). In this case
the most important note is the noun because we are talking about a house that happens to be
white. Similarly, a "fat BOY" is an overweight young male.

But sometimes short two word expressions are set or "consecrated", (that is, they mean something
special) and have to be made different from similar expressions. One example is "the WHITE
house" where Mr. Bush lives. In this case, the emphasis is on the adjective because we are more
interested in stressing that it is the house that is known because it is white. In the same way, "FAT
boy" is the nickname of a boy, chosen because the word fat emphasizes his weight.
It will be useful for you to be aware of both types of two word expressions. Here is a list of a few
that will get you thinking and give you some practice in identifying them and using them
correctly. Underline the syllable that is stressed, and write a brief explanation, for both uses of
each phrase. I start the exercise with two examples. You do the rest. Make sure you say the
phrases OUT LOUD!

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