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LESSON 2

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ACCENT RULES, WORD STRESSING

In this lesson you will:

• Become familiar with the main rules of word stress in Latin

This lesson is divided into the following sections:

I.Division of words into syllables.

II.The main rules for the position of an accent in Latin. III. Graphically signed stress.

IV. Accent in words of Greek origin.

V. Exercises.

VI. Vocabulary

I. DIVISION OF WORDS INTO SYLLABLES

One of the syllables in a word is always more accentuated than the others. We say that the syllable is stressed.

To determine which syllable is stressed the word should be divided into syllables. Every Latin word has as many syllables as it has vowels or diphthongs. In Latin syllables are usually counted from the end of a word.