Variable word stress
In some cases, the position of stress in a word can change if this will help maintain a
more comfortable overall rhythm. Having two stressed syllables together makes an
awkward rhythm, so the stress sometimes moves to create an alternation of stressed
and unstressed syllables. For example:
When we say a -teen number alone, we stress it on the last syllable:
sevenˈteen
When we say the same number with a noun after it, we stress it on the !rst
syllable:
ˈseventeen ˈyears
Related Glossary Terms
Index
Section 8 - Syllables and Word Stress
Section 9 - Rhythm
Word stress
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