What is a Stress?
Read this Word:
Pronunciation
How many syllables does it have?
Wow, 4 syllables!
Pro.nun.ci.ation
Now let’s see which syllables are both the loudest and longest.
Yes, It's not Just One Syllable!
Pro.nun.ci.ation
Now, tell me which one is the longest and loudest among these two.
Yes, It's the Last One
Pro.nun.ci.ation
The syllable in red is called Primary Stress. It is the main stress in the word and usually is the most recognisable as it is the loudest and the longest.
Stop! There's One Left
Pro.nun.ci.ation
The one in blue is called Secondary Stress. It is not as long and loud as Primary Stress but it is louder and longer than the rest.
Now Look at the Transcription
Pro.nun.ci.ation
/prə ˌnʌnsɪ ˈeɪʃn/
We indicate Primary Stress by a high vertical line (ˈ) and Secondary Stress is marked with a low vertical line (ˌ).
Let's Practice!
long time morning comes trouble don’t last always
Read these words aloud and identify their stresses.
Not hard, huh?
‘long ‘time ‘morning ‘comes ‘trouble ‘don’t ‘last ‘always
Now let’s try something more challenging.
What do you think about these words?
authoritarian experimental
California
assosiation
Read them carefully and identify their stresses.
A Hard Nut to Crack, innit?
ˌauthori‘tarian
exˌperi‘mental
ˌCali‘fornia
asˌsoci‘ation
That’s good!
Now Let's Crack This One!
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Read this one carefully and identify Primary Stress and all the secondary ones.
You're Champion!
ˌpneumonoˌultraˌmicroˌscopicˌsilicovolˌcanoˌconiˈosis
If you think it is not an actual word, we are sorry to disappoint you but it actually is. It means a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine ash and sand dust.
That's it. Now You Know What Stress is
With love and care,
your Phonema
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