* Increased loudness: The stressed word is spoken louder than surrounding words.
* Higher pitch: The stressed word has a higher pitch than surrounding words.
* Longer duration: The stressed word is held for a longer time than surrounding words.
* Change in quality: The stressed word may have a different vowel quality than the unstressed words.
Why are words stressed?
Stress in speech serves several functions:
* To highlight important information: Stressed words convey the speaker's focus and what they consider to be the most important part of the message.
* To differentiate between words with similar spellings or pronunciations: For example, the word "present" can be stressed on the first syllable to indicate a gift, or on the second syllable to indicate the opposite of "absent".
* To emphasize a particular meaning: "I DID go to the party" might be stressed to emphasize that the speaker did in fact attend.
Identifying stressed words:
It is important to note that the stress pattern of a word can change depending on the context of the sentence. For example, the word "record" can be stressed on the first syllable when used as a noun, but on the second syllable when used as a verb.
There are several ways to identify stressed words:
* Intonation: Listen for changes in pitch and loudness within the sentence.
* Word boundaries: Stressed words are often found at the beginning or end of a phrase.
* Word class: Certain word classes, like nouns and verbs, are more likely to be stressed than others.
Examples:
* "I went to the store." (Stressed words are bolded)
* "She's a doctor, not a nurse."
* "They didn't come to the party."
Understanding stressed words is crucial for clear and effective communication, both in spoken and written language.