A relatively small number of words of the same morphological structure differ in the position of word stress. In this case the opposition of accentual structures differentiates the meaning. The shifting of word stress may or may not cause changes in the sound quality or quantity, cf accent (n) {'aeksantj, accenf (v) (sek'sentj or [sk'sent].
The opposition of the primary stress is capable of differentiating the parts of speech, eg
Noun/Adjective _ Verb
combine ['kombain] [kam'bain]
conduct [kondakt] (kan'dAkt]
| I |
export ['ekspy.t] {eks'port}
progress ['pnugresj [pn'gres]
subject j'sAbcfcikt] jsab'cfcekt)
Similar examples may be found in Russian: çäîðîâî (íàðå÷èå) and çäîðáâî! (ìåæäîìåòèå).
The actual meaning of some words may be differentiated in the same way, eg artist fcttist] (a painter) but artiste (<r.'ti:stj (a person skilful at doing something), or in Russian ìîëîäåö but ìîëîäåö.
The opposition of the second primary stress to the absence of
stress is also distinctive, eg i
recover (v) ['ãê'êëóý] (cover again) (ï'êëóý] (become well again) restrain (v) ('ri.'strein] (strain again) (n'streinj (hold back)
The secondary stress opposed to the primary stress in a few exceptional cases differentiates the meaning too. eg
recreation {'ri:kri'ei/n] (creating . [.rekn'ei/n] (refreshment,
anew) amusement) 1
Recommendations.Students must be particularly careful about using accentual patterns in English. In each case a pronouncing dictionary should be consulted.
Accentual patterns with the secondary stress and with two primary stresses do not exist in Russian. They are very important for the rhythmic structure of English phrases. That is why correct accentuation and its modifications want special practice,
not only in isolated words but also in word combinations and even phrases.
Mistakes. 1. Russian students of English are likely to pronounce the neutral vowel [ý] in all unstressed syllables, eg uniform ['ju:nifo:m].
Care should be taken to retain vowels of full formation in all necessary cases.
2. The second mistake is due to the difference between accentual patterns in English and in Russian. Special attention should be paid to correct realization of patterns with the secondary stress or with two primary stresses.
3. The fact that the primary stress is usually shifted in derivatives of the same root presents a special difficulty for Russian learners of English. For instance, verbs with rhythmic stress such as 'demonstrate, 'organize, etc. are often pronounced with the primary stress on the same syllable as the corresponding nouns: .demon'stration, organization.
This mistake can be fought by a series of special exercises.