Phonetic

1. *English Supra-Segmental Phoneme*English Supra-Segmental Phoneme
*Stress*Stress
*Degrees of Stress/ Transcription*Degrees of Stress/ Transcription
*Word Stress*Word Stress
*Sentence Stress*Sentence Stress
*Stress in Compound words; level stress;*Stress in Compound words; level stress;
stress in foreign wordstress in foreign word
Prepared byPrepared by
Zhian Fadhil AsaadZhian Fadhil Asaad

2. English Supra-Segmental PhonemeEnglish Supra-Segmental Phoneme
The term supra-segmental was invented to refer to aspects of soundThe term supra-segmental was invented to refer to aspects of sound
such as intonation that did not seem to be properties of individualsuch as intonation that did not seem to be properties of individual
segments (i. e. the vowels and consonants of which speech issegments (i. e. the vowels and consonants of which speech is
composed). The term has tended to be used predominantly bycomposed). The term has tended to be used predominantly by
American writers, and much British work has preferred to use the termAmerican writers, and much British work has preferred to use the term
prosodic_ instead. There has never been full agreement about howprosodic_ instead. There has never been full agreement about how
many supra-segmental features are to be found in speech, but pitch,many supra-segmental features are to be found in speech, but pitch,
loudness, tempo, rhythm and stress are the most commonly mentionedloudness, tempo, rhythm and stress are the most commonly mentioned
ones.ones.

3. StressStress
A feature in many languages causing certain syllables to sound moreA feature in many languages causing certain syllables to sound more
prominent than others. There prominent syllables are called stressed.prominent than others. There prominent syllables are called stressed.
Other syllables are called unstressed. Stress is often a combination ofOther syllables are called unstressed. Stress is often a combination of
several phonetic features. In every content words (i. e. every words,several phonetic features. In every content words (i. e. every words,
except for functions words like: to, the, and an etc.) are stressed like:except for functions words like: to, the, and an etc.) are stressed like:
ppeervert subrvert subjjectect

4. In English, stressed syllables haveIn English, stressed syllables have
the following characteristicsthe following characteristics::
 They are louder than unstressed syllables. There is more energyThey are louder than unstressed syllables. There is more energy
involved in producing the air stream for stressed syllables whichinvolved in producing the air stream for stressed syllables which
leads to greater relative loudness.leads to greater relative loudness.
 They have different, often higher, pitch than unstressed syllables.They have different, often higher, pitch than unstressed syllables.
 They are typically slightly longer in duration than unstressedThey are typically slightly longer in duration than unstressed
syllables.syllables.
 They have different vowels from unstressed syllables.They have different vowels from unstressed syllables.

5. In some language stress -placement is predictable. For example:In some language stress -placement is predictable. For example:
French and Persian words are nearly always stresses on the lastFrench and Persian words are nearly always stresses on the last
syllable. But in English, stress placement is somewhat unpredictablesyllable. But in English, stress placement is somewhat unpredictable
and needs to be learned as a part of pronunciation of any words withand needs to be learned as a part of pronunciation of any words with
more than one syllable.more than one syllable.
In IPA, stress is marked with [´] -symbol before the stress syllables.In IPA, stress is marked with [´] -symbol before the stress syllables.
Stress can be considered as a key to correct pronunciation of anStress can be considered as a key to correct pronunciation of an
English word hence if proper stress is not assigned to the right syllableEnglish word hence if proper stress is not assigned to the right syllable
the meaning is changed for example:the meaning is changed for example: dedesert vs desert vs desesertrt

6. Stress LevelsStress Levels
In some words, more than one vowel is stressed, but if so, on of theseIn some words, more than one vowel is stressed, but if so, on of these
stressed vowels receives greater stress than others. In polysyllabic ( Astressed vowels receives greater stress than others. In polysyllabic ( A
linguistic unit such as a word, morpheme or phrase is polysyllabic if itlinguistic unit such as a word, morpheme or phrase is polysyllabic if it
contains more than one syllable). Words normally have more than onecontains more than one syllable). Words normally have more than one
stressed syllable, one of which is usually more prominent than others.stressed syllable, one of which is usually more prominent than others.
We have indicated the most highly stressed vowel by primary stressWe have indicated the most highly stressed vowel by primary stress
and the other stress vowels are indicated by secondary and weak .and the other stress vowels are indicated by secondary and weak .
In economical the third syllable has primary stress, the first hasIn economical the third syllable has primary stress, the first has
secondary and the rest of the syllables are weak.secondary and the rest of the syllables are weak.

7. With phonetic transcriptions, dictionaries tell you about theWith phonetic transcriptions, dictionaries tell you about the pronunciationpronunciation of words. In Englishof words. In English
dictionaries, phonetic transcriptions are necessary, because the spelling of an English word doesdictionaries, phonetic transcriptions are necessary, because the spelling of an English word does
not tell you how you should pronounceit.not tell you how you should pronounceit.
Phonetic transcriptions are usually written in thePhonetic transcriptions are usually written in the International Phonetic AlphabetInternational Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), in which(IPA), in which
each English sound has its own symbol. (You can take a look at a chart with all the Englisheach English sound has its own symbol. (You can take a look at a chart with all the English
sounds and their IPA symbols.)sounds and their IPA symbols.)
For example, the IPA-based phonetic transcription ofFor example, the IPA-based phonetic transcription of nono is no , and the transcription ofʊis no , and the transcription ofʊ dodo is du:.is du:.
Note that in spelling, these words are similar. They both end in the letterNote that in spelling, these words are similar. They both end in the letter oo. But their phonetic. But their phonetic
transcriptions are different, because they are pronounced differently.transcriptions are different, because they are pronounced differently.
Phonetic transcription is usually given in brackets, like this: /no /, /du:/. In a dictionary, it looksʊPhonetic transcription is usually given in brackets, like this: /no /, /du:/. In a dictionary, it looksʊ
like this:like this:
(By the way, not all dictionaries give the pronunciations of words. If you are serious about(By the way, not all dictionaries give the pronunciations of words. If you are serious about
learning English, you should buy a dictionary which has this information.)learning English, you should buy a dictionary which has this information.)
httphttp://://wwwwww..antimoonantimoon..comcom//howhow//pronuncpronunc--transtrans..htmhtm
Phonetic transcription is usually written inPhonetic transcription is usually written in [[square bracketssquare brackets]] or between two backslash symbolsor between two backslash symbols..
Stress: main stress is a short vertical or slant line placed at the top before the stressed syllable inStress: main stress is a short vertical or slant line placed at the top before the stressed syllable in
the phonetic transcription of the word; secondary stress is a short vertical or slant line placed atthe phonetic transcription of the word; secondary stress is a short vertical or slant line placed at
the bottom before the stressed syllable. E.g.:the bottom before the stressed syllable. E.g.:

8. English Supra-SegmentalEnglish Supra-Segmental
Word stressWord stress
When a word has many syllables, one of them is alwaysWhen a word has many syllables, one of them is always
pronouncedpronounced more stronglymore strongly.. This is calledThis is called word stressword stress,, and we sayand we say
that the syllable isthat the syllable is stressedstressed.. For example, in the wordFor example, in the word becomebecome,, thethe
stressed syllable isstressed syllable is comecome.. If the stressed syllableIf the stressed syllable
waswas bebe,, becomebecome would bewould be pronouncedpronounced like thislike this..
Dictionaries tell you which syllable is stressedDictionaries tell you which syllable is stressed.. The most popularThe most popular
system is to put a vertical linesystem is to put a vertical line ( )ˈ( )ˈ beforebefore the stressed syllable in thethe stressed syllable in the
phonetic transcription of the wordphonetic transcription of the word.. For example, the transcriptionFor example, the transcription
forfor becomebecome isis //b k mɪˈ ʌb k mɪˈ ʌ /./.
If a word has only one syllableIf a word has only one syllable ((for examplefor example:: penpen,, househouse),), thethe
syllable is always stressedsyllable is always stressed.. Dictionaries usually do not putDictionaries usually do not put
thethe ˈˈ stress mark before the only syllablestress mark before the only syllable.. So they don’t writeSo they don’t write //
ˈˈpenpen/ —/ — they simply writethey simply write //penpen/./.
Some dictionaries use other systems for showing word stressSome dictionaries use other systems for showing word stress.. ForFor
example, they may putexample, they may put ˈˈ afterafter the stressed syllable, or they maythe stressed syllable, or they may
underline the stressed syllableunderline the stressed syllable..