Functional aspects of word stress

In discussing accentual structure of English words we should turn now to the functional aspect of word stress. Word stress in a language performs three functions.    I. Word stress constitutes a word, it organizes the syllables of a word into a language unit having a definite accentual structure, that is a pattern of relationship among the syllables; a word does not exist without the word stress. Thus the word stress performs the constitutive function. Sound continuum becomes a phrase when it is divided into units organized by word stress into words. П. Word stress enables a person to identify a succession of syllables as a definite accentual pattern of a word. This function of word stress is known as identificatory (or recognitive). Correct accentuation helps the listener to make the process of communi-.cation easier, whereas the distorted accentual pattern of words, misplaced word stresses prevent normal understanding.

Ш. Word stress alone is capable of differentiating the meaning of words or their forms, thus performing its distinctive function. The accentual patterns of words or the degrees of word stress and their positions form oppositions, e.g. 'import — im'port.

VA.Vassilyev introduces the term "accenteme" for Word stress as a suprasegmental phonological unit having different degrees and placement in a word (79). For instance the primary accenteme is opposed to the weak word accenteme (unstressed position), in 'import -, im'port differentiating the noun from the verb. A.C.Gimson establishes three groups of words with identical spelling representing different parts of speech which are opposed by means of shifting of the stress

1. A small group of words where the noun is differentiated from a verb by the opposition of the accentual pattern of the word alone, e.g.  

increase [‘inkri:s] – [in’kri:s]

impress [‘impres] – [im’pres]

inlay [‘inlei] - [in’lei]

2: The second group where the shifting of the stress which

means the change of the accentual pattern of the word may be or may not be accompanied by the reduction of the vowel in the unstressed vowel, e.g.

transport [‘trænspo:t] – [træns’pot] or [trəns’pot]

3. The largest group of such pairs of words manifests the change of their accentual pattern together with the qualitative reduction of the unstressed vowel, e.g.

combine [ ‘kombain] – [kəm’bain]

contrast [‘kontra:st] – [kən’tra:st]

 and many others.

Oppositions of accentual types of words are also observed as a concomitant factor in word-formation in addition to suffixation.

[‘_ _ _] – [,_ _ ‘_] e.g. ‘organize -,organi’zation

[‘_’_ _ _] – [‘_,_ _ ‘_ _] e.g. ‘predis’pose – ‘pre,dispo’sition

[‘_ _ _] – [‘_ _ _ ‘_] e.g. ‘solemn – ‘solemni’zation

[,_ _ ‘_] – [‘_ _,_ _’_ _] e.g.,incon’siderable – ‘incon,side’ration.

There is also a group of accentuation oppositions where compound nouns are opposed to free word combinations, e.g.

a ‘dancing-girl – танцовщица

a ‘dancing ‘girl – танцующая девушка

As we have already mentioned the same distinctive function of word stress is observed in the Russian language, It differentiates words and their grammatical forms, e.g.

The words чýдная - чуднáя, безобрáзная - безóбразная are different lexical units, they differ in meaning.,

The words зимы - зимы, беды— беды represent different, grammatical forms of the same lexical unit. Both in word-building and in word-formation the shifting of stress is accompanied by the qualitative reduction of the unstressed syllable. Word-formation with the help of the shifting of stress is quite common in
Russian as well as in English.

The accentual structure of words is actually very closely interrelated with their semantic value. By way of illustration we shall now analyse a fairly large class of words in English which are marked by two primary stresses (Accentual Type П). They are either compounds consisting of two semantically important,
stems or words with semantically relevant separable prefixes or the suffix -teen. The accentual pattern of this group of words is regulated by the meaningful weight of the elements of the compounds. Word stress establishes contrastive relationship of the elements and often creates opposition to comparable words.

Most of compound adjectives have two equal stresses as both elements in them are semantically important, e.g. 'absent-'minded, 'good-looking.   ...

As soon as the significance of one of the elements of a compound adjective is weakened, its accentual pattern is changed. (Accentual Type I), e.g. 'spring-like, 'nymph-like, 'powder-like; 'oval-shaped,'bow-shaped.   

The same tendency is observed in compound nouns: if their elements are semantically important both elements are equally stressed (Accentual Type П), e.g. 'north-east, 'north-'west, 'south-'west.

At the same time, as we very well know, most of compound nouns have one stress on the first element which is more significant than the second one. They are sometimes opposed to other compounds with the same second element, e.g. 'dining-room - 'bedroom — 'bathroom — 'living-room; 'shop-girl — 'ballet-girl.

Compound verbs have two equal stresses as their postpositions change the actual meaning of the verb itself as it is illustrated in the following example:.

What shall I do with it?

- 'Put it where it,was.

- Put it,on.

-Put it, off.