In'tensity

In words with more than 4 syllables we very often find the influence of both – the rhythmic and recessive tendencies.

ֽIndi'visible

All this variations are accepted in the Johns dictionary.

Under the influence of rhythm the accentual structure of the word can be pronounced with one single stress under the influence of rhythm . The rhythmic stress effects the stress patterns of a great number of words in English

'Pictu'resque

Under the influence of rhythm compounds of 3 elements may have a single stress on the second syllable.

3. Retentive tendency is characteristic by the retention of the primary accent in the derivation on the same syllable on which it falls in the parent word.

'Similar - 'similarly

More commonly the primary stress is retained on the derivative word as the secondary accent

'Similar – ֽsimi'larity

'Personal - ֽperso'nality

'Nation – ֽnatio'nality

4. According to the semantic tendency words with separate prefixes and compound words have two equally strong stresses

'Un'known

'Twenty 'one

Such prominence is given to negative prefix :

• un, in, mis, anti, non

• ex, vice, sub, under, ultra

• teen

• semantically important element in compound word

'well-'known

A special analysis of English stress was made by Torsuev . He worked out the typology of accentual structure. He distinguishes more then 100 stress patterns, which form 11main types. (Sokolova M.A. A theoretical course, p.127-128)

He classifies them according to the number of stressed syllables, their degree or character (the main and the secondary stress). Accentual types and accentual structures are closely connected with the morphological type of words, with the number of syllables, the semantic value of the root and the prefix of the word.

The accentual types are:

1. / ┴ ─ /. (74%)This accentual type marks both simple and compound words. The accentual structures of this type may include two and more syllables, e.g. 'fafher, 'possibly, 'mother-in-law, 'gas-pipe.

2. / ┴ ┴ /. (20%) The accentual type is commonly realized in compound words, most of them are with separable prefixes, e.g. 'radio-'active, 're'write, 'diso'bey.

3. / ┴ ┴ ┴ / and 4. / ┴ ┴ ┴ ┴ /. The accentual types are met in initial compound abbreviations like 'U'S'A, 'U'S'S'R.

5. / ┴ ┬ ─ /. The type is realized both in simple and compound words, very

common among compound words, e.g. 'hair-,dresser, 'substructure.

6. / ┬ ┴ ─/. (3%) The accentual type marks a great number of simple words and some compound words as well. In simple words the stresses fall onto:

1. the prefix and the root: maga'zine;

2. the root and the suffix: ,hospi'tality;

3. the prefix and the suffix: disorganization.

The most widely spread among the enumerated accentual types are supposed to be Type 1, Type 2, Type 5 and Type 6. Each type includes varieties of definite accentual structures with different numbers of syllables and marks thousands of words. So the four of them cover the main bulk of most common English words and are therefore most typical for the English vocabulary.

The variability of the word accentual structure is multiplied in connected speech. The accentual structure of words may be altered under the influence of rhythm, e.g. An 'unpolished 'stone but: The 'stone was un'polished.

The tempo of speech may influence the accentual pattern of words. With the quickening of the speed the carefulness of articulation is diminished, the vowels are reduced or elided, the secondary stress may be dropped, e.g. The 'whole organi'zation of the 'meeting was 'faulty.

IV. Word stress performs:

1. constitutive

2. identificatory or recognative

3. distinctive

1. Word stress constitutes a word. It organizes the syllables of a word into a language unit. A word doesn’t exist without the word stress. Word stress performs the constitutive function.

2. Word stress has this function because the stress patterns of words enable people identify definite combinations of sounds as meaningful linguistic units. A distortion of the stress patterns can hamper understanding or produce the strange accent.

3. Word stress is capable of differentiation the meaning of words and their forms.