1. Word stress

2. Stress
Based on loudness/intonation: a stressed syllable is louder than an unstressed syllable
We can stress only vowels
Degrees of stress:
Primary or main stress
Secondary stress
Zero stress (‘ve(h)icle): reduced vowel (ɪ, ʊ, ǝ)
Tertiary (minor) stress: unreduced vowel

5. Using these codes where would you put the primary and secondary stress in these words?
Example: 3 3

6. Answers 3 3 3 3

7. Stress on first syllable
Most 2-syllable nouns (‘present, ‘export, ‘China, ‘table)
Most 2-syllable adjectives (‘present, ‘slender, ‘clever, ‘happy)

8. Stress on the last syllable
Most 2-syllable verbs (to pre’sent, to ex’port, to de’cide, to be’gin

9. ‘Refuse (n)  (v) ‘Present (n)  (v) ‘Minute (n)  (adj)
There are many two-syllable words in English whose meaning and class change with a change in stress.
‘Refuse (n)  (v)
‘Present (n)  (v)
‘Minute (n)  (adj)
‘Desert (n)  (v)
‘Content (n)  (adj)
‘Object (n)  (adj)
‘Contract (n)  (v)

10. Answers re’fuse (v) pre’sent (v) min’ute (adj) de’sert (v)
con’tent (adj)
ob’ject (adj)
con’tract (v)