Here's a breakdown:
Stressed Syllables:
* Stronger pronunciation: The vowel sound in a stressed syllable is pronounced with more force and clarity. It might be louder, longer, or higher in pitch than the vowel in an unstressed syllable.
* Emphasis: The stress on a syllable makes it the most prominent part of a word. It helps to define the word's meaning and distinguish it from other words.
* Marked in dictionaries: Stressed syllables are often marked with an accent mark (ˈ) before the stressed syllable in dictionaries. For example, "a'bout" has the stress on the second syllable.
Unstressed Syllables:
* Weaker pronunciation: The vowel sound in an unstressed syllable is typically pronounced more quickly and with less emphasis. It might be shorter, softer, or even reduced to a schwa sound (ə).
* Less emphasis: Unstressed syllables are less prominent than stressed syllables, allowing the stressed syllable to stand out.
* Not marked in dictionaries: Unstressed syllables are generally not marked in dictionaries.
Examples:
* "About": The stress is on the second syllable ("bout"), making it the most prominent.
* "Banana": The stress is on the first syllable ("ba"), making it the loudest and clearest.
* "Beautiful": The stress is on the second syllable ("ti"), making it the most emphasized.
Why are stressed and unstressed syllables important?
* Understanding meaning: Stress patterns help us differentiate between words that sound similar but have different meanings. For example, "CONduct" (to lead) and "conDUCT" (to carry out) have different stress patterns.
* Natural speech: The rhythm of spoken language is created by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables.
* Poetry: Stressed and unstressed syllables are essential in poetry, as they create patterns like iambs, trochees, and spondees.
Learning to recognize stress patterns can improve your understanding of spoken language and your pronunciation.