The underlying pattern of English rhythm is that the stressed syllables of stressed

words occur on relatively evenly spaced "beats." This concept is called the Rhythm
Rule. This pattern is possible because words and sentences have three levels of stress:
1. stressed
2. unstressed
3. secondarily stressed
For words a single stressed syllable is given emphasis. It could be pronounced louder,
for a longer period of time, or with a different pitch.
One word can only have one stressed syllable.
Only vowels are stressed
The stress in a syllable is usually static and unchanging

Syllable Stress

Stress on first syllable:

Most 2-syllable nouns: PRO-ject MU-sic GLA-sses

Most 2-syllable adjectives: HA-ppy FLU-ffy HO-nest

Stress on the last syllable:

Most 2-syllable verbs: ex-PORT be-GIN pro-DUCE

Stress on penultimate syllable

Words ending in IC : GRAPHic geoGRAPHIC geoLOGIC

Words ending in SION / TION: teleVIsion reveLATION

Stress on the ante-penultimate syllable:

Words ending in -cy, -ty, -phyand gy : deMOcracy, dependaBIlity,

phoTOgraphy, geOLogy
Words ending in -al
:

CRItical,
geoLOGical

Compound Words:
For compound nouns, the
stress is on the firstpart :
For compound adjectives, the
stress is on the second part :

BLACKbird, GREENhouse
bad-TEMpered, old-FASHioned

For compound verbs, the

stress is on the second part :

to underSTAND, to overFLOW

A sentence stress is more flexible. The stressed can change to fit the speakers intention.
For example:
I don't think he should get that job.
Meaning: That's not really what I mean. OR I'm not sure he'll get that job.

I don't think he should get that job.

Meaning: Somebody else should get that job.

I don't think he should get that job.

Meaning: He should have to earn (be worthy of, work hard for) that job.

I don't think he should get that job.

Meaning: He should get another job.

I don't think he should get that job.

Meaning: Maybe he should get something else instead.

Unstressed Syllables and words

It is related to the use of a neutral vowel like (schwa) to reduce syllables or even
entire words. We can do it by decreasing the length of the vowel sound and omitting
sound like entire syllables.

For example:
His eyes were lost looking at some point in the distance

hz aIz wr lst lk t sm pjnt n dstns

/w3/ /t/

Differently Differently /dfrntl/

Chocolate Chocolate /tklt/

Secondary stressed syllables

Create a softer prominence in the pronunciation of a word,
these are not reduced or omitted. Their purpose is to keep
the rhythm of English.
They are usually separated from the stressed syllable by at
least one unstressed syllable. In a sentence some words can
also have a secondary stress. Could be to highlight
information or to maintain the rhythm.
Negrita: stressed / Cursiva: Secondary stressed
Are you coming?
Do you know where she is?

The pitch is raising and lowering the voice while speaking and its use is called intonation.
For example we have raising pitch and falling pitch.
As in questions or statements.

You are coming ?

You are coming.
Did you? surprise
Did you? disappointment

pitch words: book, like, yeah, fantastic

There are three types of pitch

Pitch Boundary: Happens at the end of an intonation unit, and tells

the listener what kind of interaction the speaker is planning or
expecting. For example : expecting for an answer, or an empathy
phrase etc
Starting Pitch: It occurs at the beginning of a sentence. To catch
listener attention.
Word Pitch: these are individual words that speakers choose to set
apart by raising or lowering their voices. It determinates which word
is more important in the sentence.

Pauses:

Pauses are a break in speaking and are directly related to

speech rhythm. These may be predictable as in the
separation of words or for the speaker to take a breath.
There are also unpredictable pauses which are used by the
speaker because of hesitation or intentionally. These gaps in
the speech can be replaced by vowels (... ahh ) or by
lengthening a sound (maybeee) pet words muletillas