18. Functios of the syllable.

The first is constitutive function. It lies in its ability to be a part of a word itself. The syllables form language units of greater magnitude that is words, morphemes, and utterances. It this respect two things should be emphasized. First, the syllable is the unit within which the relations between distinctive features of phonemes and their acoustic correlates are revealed. Second, within a syllable (or syllables) prosodic characteristics of speech are realized, which form the stress pattern of a word and the intonation structure of an utterance. In sum, the syllable is a specific minimal structure of both segmental and suprasegmental features.

The other function is distinctive one. In this respect the syllable is characterized by its ability to differentiate words and word-forms. One minimal pare has been found in English to illustrate the word distinctive function in the syllabic: nitrate — night-rate. There analogical distinction between word combinations can be illustrated by many more examples: an aim - a name; an ice house - a nice house, etc. Sometimes the difference in syllable division may be the basic ground for differentiation in such pairs as I saw her rise.- I saw her eyes; I saw the meat — I saw them eat.

identificatory - is conditioned by the pronunciation of the speaker. The listener understands if he perceives the correct sentences boundary – ‘syllabodisjuncture’ might rain – my train.

19. Types of English word stress.

According to the most important feature different types, of word stress are distinguished in different languages.

1) If special prominence in a stressed syllable or syllables is achieved mainly through the intensity of articulation, such type of stress is called dynamic, or force stress.

2) If special prominence in a stressed syllable is achieved mainly through the change of pitch, or musical tone, such accent is called musical, or tonic. It is characteristic of the Japanese, Korean and other oriental languages.

3) If special prominence in a stressed syllable is achieved through the changes in the quantity of the vowels, which are longer in the stressed syllables than in the unstressed ones, such type of stress is called quantitative.

4) Qualitative type of stress is achieved through the changes in the quality of the vowel under stress.

English word stress is traditionally defined as dynamic, but in fact, the special prominence of the stressed syllables is manifested in the English language not only through the increase of intensity, but also through the changes in the vowel quantity, consonant and vowel quality and pitch of the voice.

Russian word stress is not only dynamic but mostly quantitative and qualitative. The length of Russian vowels always depends on the position in a word.

Words with primary and secondary stresses

The secondary stress is manifested in polysyllabic words.

e.g. popularity, responsibility.

In words with the primary stress on the 3d syllable the secondary stress usually falls on the 1^st syllable.

e.g. decoration.

If the primary stress falls on the 4^th or 5^th syllable the secondary stress is on the second syllable.

e.g. articulation, experimentation.

Words with two primary stresses

The following groups of words have 2 primary stresses:

• polysyllabic words with prefixes having a distinct meaning of their own

  1. negative prefixes un, dis, non, in, re, mis, pre, ex, under, sub, inter, anti, vice, ultra, out.

• numerals from 13 to 19

• compound numerals, e.g. twenty-three

• compound adjectives, e.g. well-known, absent-minded.

• compound verbs, e.g. to give in, to put on.