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INSTRUCTION 7
‘Stress’, especially word stress, is a very important aspect of spoken English. Like using wrong grammar syntax or having a badly-punctuated writing, stressing the wrong syllable in a word can give the word a rather different meaning, or encumber your listener’s comprehension, thereby creating interference to effective communication. Unfortunately, there are no straitjacketed rules for word stress in English. While some rules are consistent, others are not; they come with lots exceptions.

For instance, words that end in –ic (as in ‘Dramatic’ or ‘Authentic’), and words that end in -sion, -tion (as in ‘commission’ or ‘accommodation’) usually have their stress on the second-to-last syllable – no matter the length of the word. On the other hand, it is a general rule that for two-syllable words, nouns and  adjectives have their stress on the first syllable, but verbs have the stress on the second syllable. But some words can both be verbs and nouns with no stress shift. Words like comfort, schedule, format, preview, purchase, highlight, worship, vomit, and many more can each be used as a noun or verb with no stress shift.

So, we must continue to identify exceptions like these ones and other words we mispronounce every day.


INSTRUCTION 7

 AWE /ɑː/ (n. or v.) (A feeling of fear, reverence or amazement)
EWE /juː/ (A female sheep, as opposed to a ram)
 HOARSE  /hɔːrs/
Because he was awed by the incredible size of the ewe, he spoke in a hoarse voice.

SOAR /sɔːr/
DWARF /dwɔːf/
LIMIT /ˈlɪm.ɪt/
In 2017, prizes of goods soared and that succeeded in dwarfing the already limited purchasing power of the common man.

PERFUME /ˈpɜː.fjuːm/
RESPECT /rɪˈspekt/
IDEA /aɪˈdɪə/
You have no idea about the number of times I have had to contact the merchant for my perfume before I got it.

CONTACT /ˈkɒn.tækt/ (v. & n.) /CONTACTIBLE
SUCCESS/səkˈses/
INFLUENCE/ˈɪn.flu.ənt s/
He influenced my decision to contact my parents in order to acquaint them with my level of success.

MISTAKE/mɪˈsteɪk/
ROAR/rɔːr/
APPROACH/əˈprəʊtʃ/ (v.&n.)
In spite of my cautious approach towards the hungry, roaring lion, everyone considered my show of bravery a huge mistake.

INPUT /ˈɪn.pʊt/
IMBECILE /ˈɪm.bə.siːl/
IMPORTANCE /ɪmˈpɔː.tən t  s/
The importance of his general input in the life of a boy everyone considered an imbecile cannot be overemphasized.


Down Speak Right, Sound Right 7

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