In this lesson, we will explain the morphophonemic approach at identifying a stressed syllable. In this approach, stress placement is determined as a result of the occurrence and arrangement of vowels (short, long, diphthongs) and consonants in syllables.

Guidelines

A (i) For two syllable words, Simple Adjectives, Adverbs and Prepositions,

Stress the first syllable when the second syllable contains a short vowel and one or a final consonant. E.g. ENter, ENvy, Open, Equal.

However, a two syllable verb that ends in the diphthong (әu) is stressed on the first syllable for example FOllow, BOrrow.

(ii) Stress the second syllable if it contains a long vowel or diphthong and ends with more than one consonant. E.g. withDRAW, inVITE, conTACT, aLIVE.

iii)Three syllabled verbs

If the last syllable contains a long vowel, diphthong or more than our consonant stress it. If the last syllable contains a short vowel or not more one consonant stress the second syllable e.g. resuRRECT, enterTAIN, enCOUNTER, deTERmine

B (i)Nouns of two syllables

Stress the first syllable if the second syllable contains a short vowel otherwise stress the second e.g. MOney, PROduct, LArynx, eSTATE, balLOON, deSIGN.

(ii)Nouns of three syllables

If the last syllable contains a short vowel or the diphthong /әu/, it receives no stress. If the middle syllable contains a long vowel or diphthong or ends with more than one consonant, that middle syllable is stressed e.g. poTAto, diSASter, boNANza, syNOPsis, diSASter, apPOINTment.

If the last syllable contains a short vowel and contains not more than one consonant, stress the first syllable e.g. QUANtity, EXercise, CUStody, SCHOlarship, EMperor, CInema.

EVALUATION

Identify three guidelines for identifying a stressed syllable.