Андреева Анна

Word stress in English

Екатерина Грачёва

Test 1

1. Word stress can be defined as the singling out of one or more syllables in a word, which is accompanied by:

• the change of the force of utterance;

• pitch of the voice;

• qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the sound;

• all of the above.

2. English word stress is traditionally defined as:

• dynamic;

• musical;

• quantitative;

• qualitative.

3.What type of word stress in English makes the place of stress always the same?

• free;

• fixed;

• shifting;

• pretonic.

4. Which vowel is the most highest in intensity in English?

• [L]

• [H]

• [R]

• [ J]

5. All English vowels may occur in accented syllables, the only exception is:

• [x]

• [q]

• [V]

• [O]

6. Which of the following words has only one primary stress?

• situation;

• prepaid;

• expedition;

d) raincoat.

7. Which of the following words has two primary stresses?

• responsibility;

• articulation;

• intercourse;

• impossible.

8. Which of the following words has one primary and one secondary stress?

• articulation;

• characterize;

• laboratory;

• appreciate.

9. Choose the correct statement of stress:

• 'blackboard;

• 'black 'board;

• Both variants are correct;

• Both variant s are incorrect.

10. What are the functions of word stress in English?

• constitutive;

• distinctive;

• identificatory;

• all of the above.

Test 2

1. __________ is the relative emphasis that may be given to certain syllables in a word, or to certain words in a phrase or sentence.

2. English word stress is traditionally defined as __________.

3. As to the seat of word stress it can be characterized as __________ and __________.

4. In English and Russian word stress is __________, that is it may fall on any syllable in a word.

5. The most common English stress patterns are: words with one primary stress, words with two primary stresses and __________.

The Keys

Test 1

1. d)

2. a)

3. b)

4. c)

5. b)

6. d)

7. c)

8. a)

9. c)

10. d)

Test 2

1. Stress

2. Dynamic

3. Fixed; free

4. Free

5. Words with one primary and one secondary stress

Assimilation in English

Анастасия Пожидаева

1. When the following sound influences the articulation of the preceding one assimilation is called … .

The key: regressive.

2. Assimilation is called … in the case the two adjoining sounds become alike or merge into one. It always takes place when the two sounds differ only in one articulatory feature.

The key: complete.

3. … or … assimilation means complex mutual influence of the adjacent sounds.

The key: reciprocal or double.

4. … is a process of alteration of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the adjoining sound.

The key: assimilation.

5. Assimilation is called … when the likeness of the adjoining sounds is partial as the assimilated sound retains its major articulatory features.

The key: incomplete.

6. Types of assimilation can be distinguished according to :

a) The position of the lips and the position of soft palate;

b) Progressive and regressive assimilation;

c) Direction of assimilation and degrees of assimilation.

The key: (c).

7. Laws and forms of assimilation in each language depend on the:

a) The position of soft palate and the manner of the release of plosive consonants;

b) Historically formed articulatory tendencies and specific phonetic structures;

c) The place of obstruction and the active organ of speech.

The key: (b).

8. Assimilation can affect:

a) The position of soft palate;

b) Specific phonetic structures;

c) The position of teeth.

The key: (a).

9. When some articulatory features of the following sound are changed under the influence of the preceding sound, which remains unchanged, assimilation is called:

a) Regressive;

b) Progressive;

c) Reciprocal or double.

The key: (b).

10. Denote the type of assimilation:

The plural suffix –s of nouns depends on the quality of the preceding consonant:

it is pronounced as [z] after voiced consonants (pens – [penz]);

it is pronounced as [s] after voiceless consonants (desks – [desks]).

a) Progressive;

b) Regressive;

c) Reciprocal or double.

The key: (a).

11. Denote the type of assimilation:

Within the word “tree” [tri:] the sonorant [r] is partly devoiced under the influence of the voiceless [t] and the alveolar [t] becomes post-alveolar before the post-alveolar [r].

a) Progressive;

b) Regressive;

c) Reciprocal or double.

The key: (c).

12. Denote the type of assimilation:

Within the word “width” the alveolar [d] becomes dental [ θ ]

in the word combination “in them” the alveolar [n] becomes dental [ ð ]

a) Progressive;

b) Regressive;

c) Reciprocal or double.

The key: (b).

13. Denote the type of assimilation according to the degree of completeness:

The sonorants [w, l, r] are partly devoiced when preceded by the voiceless fortis: [p, t, k, s, f, θ] e.g: sweet [swi:t], place [pleis], try [trai].

a) Complete assimilation;

b) Incomplete assimilation.

The key: (b).

14. Denote the type of assimilation according to the degree of completeness:

“cupboard” – [‘kʌbəd];

“less shy” - [‘les ‘ʃai] > [‘leʃ ʃai].

a) Complete assimilation;

b) Incomplete assimilation.

The key: (a).

15. What do we call a process of alteration of speech sounds as a result of which one of the sounds becomes fully or partially similar to the adjoining sound?

a) Formation;

b) Assimilation;

c) Intonation.

The key: (b).