Here's a breakdown:
* Stress is the relative prominence given to a syllable in a word or a word in a phrase. It's marked by increased loudness, length, and/or pitch.
* Word stress refers to the emphasis on a particular syllable within a word. For example, in the word "record", the first syllable "re" is stressed.
* Sentence stress refers to the emphasis on a particular word within a sentence. For example, in the sentence "I went to the store", the word "store" is stressed.
Stress is important for:
* Clarity of communication: It helps listeners understand the meaning of words and sentences.
* Prosody: Stress contributes to the rhythm and intonation of spoken language.
* Meaning distinction: Sometimes, stress can change the meaning of a word or phrase. For example, "record" (verb) vs. "record" (noun).
Let me know if you have any more questions about stress in language!