One key feature of good spoken English is syllable stress. In spoken English one syllable is each word is stressed. The vowel in the stressed syllable is lengthened and pronounced with a higher pitch.
Spoken French does not employ syllable stress in this way. French syllables are evenly stressed until you reach the last syllable in a phrase or thought group. The last word in a phrase or thought group will be stressed.
Given that correct syllable stress is key to a good American English accent, how can you learn to use it?
There are some rules or patterns you can use to determine which syllable to stress in American English words.
Here are the two “rules” that students find easy to remember:
1. 90% of two syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable (STU-dənt, NOTEbook, COF-fee)
2. 60% of two syllable verbs are stressed on the second syllable (rə-TURN, də-LAY, əf-FEND)
Also, remember that the vowel sound in unstressed syllables is frequently reduced to schwa.
Here is a Syllable Stress Chart that you can use to practice syllable stress in 2 syllable, 3 syllable and 4 syllable English words.
Tags: Accent Reduction Techniques, american accent, American English Pronunciation, french speakers, learn american accent, Schwa Vowel Sound, Syllable stress
