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Many pronunciation experts say that learning to use syllable stress in words is the best way to improve your American English pronunciation. That’s because when you use American English syllable stress correctly you create the speech rhythm that Americans use to identify words.
Although you can’t see syllable stress in the written form of the language, you need to know that in spoken English one syllable in each word always receives strong stress or emphasis while the other syllables are reduced.
For example- 90% of two syllable English nouns are stressed on the first syllable and 60% of two syllable English verbs are stressed on the second syllable.
The vowels in stressed syllables take on a special quality in spoken English. These vowels are lengthened and pronounced with a high pitch. This makes words sound comprehensible to American listeners. When you are speaking you really need to lengthen the vowels in stressed syllables!
The vowels in reduced syllables are not pronounced long and clear. Instead these vowels are pronounce with the “schwa” sound which is a low pitched “uh”. The symbol for the schwa vowel sound is /ə/.
That means that when you pronounce 2 syllable words such as PEN-cəl and STU-dənt, you put strong emphasis on the first syllable. The second syllable is reduced.
This combination of stressed syllables with long vowel sounds and reduced syllables with the schwa vowel sound create a speech rhythm that is very American.
To learn more on how to apply syllable stress read my article called Syllable Stress in American English.
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