Theory of phonetics

Topics for discussion:

1. 
   What are the most wide spread theories about syllables? Does any universal one exist?
   
2. 
   How many types of syllables are there in English? How many syllables can a word consist of?
   
3. 
   What does the syllabic division depend on?
   
4. 
   Which functions does a syllable possess? What is the defining characteristic of the syllable?
   

Lecture VIII. Stress (accentual) structure of English words.
Key words:

1. obscure [qb'skjVq] – непонятный, смутный 2. criterion (criteria) [kraI'tIqrIqn] – кри- терий; 3. prominent ['prPmInqnt] – выступаю- щий, выделяющийся; 4. contribute [kqn'trIbjut] – способство- вать, содействовать; 5. obtain [qb'teIn] – получать, дости- гать, приобретать; 6. inherent [In'herqnt] – присущий, неотъемлемый; 7. discourse ['dIskLs] – рассуждение; 8. shift [SIft] – смещение; ;

9. diminish [dI'mInIS] – уменьшать, ослабевать 10. drop [drPp] – опускать; 11. predetermine ["prJdI'tE:mIn] – пред- определять, повлиять; 12. arrangement [q'reInGmqnt] – распо-ложение, распределение, классифика- ция; 13. distinction [dI'stINkSn] – распознава- ние, отличительная особенность; 14. convey [kqn'veI] – передавать, сооб- щать; 15. evaluative [I'vxljuqtIv] – оценочный; 16. manifest ['mxnIfqst] – ясно показы-вать, делать очевидным, проявляться.

I. Word stress.
II. Types of stress.
III. Functional aspect of word stress.
IV Shift of stress.
I. Word stress.
The main idea of stress is to make a sound, a syllable or any other sequence of sounds more prominent than neighbouring sounds. According to A. C. Gimson, the effect of prominence is achieved by any or all of four factors: force, tone, length and vowel colour (Gimson A. C. An Introduction to the Pronunciation of English. – Ldn, 1975.). The dynamic stress implies greater force with which the syllable is pronounced. In the articulation of the stressed syllable greater muscular energy is produced by the speaker. The English linguists agree that in English word stress or accent is a complex phenomenon, marked by the variations in force, pitch, quantity and quality. The first component of stress is the force of articulation. Depending on the force of articulation the degree of stress varies from the main stress to secondary ones, from them – to zero stress. We hardly need any proofs. This however is not the case. Force is extremely important but it is not the only important factor.
For example, honey ['hPnI] They are controversial cases.
honey [ hPnI]
or канéчно, Варóнеж. It’s hard to tell which syllable is stronger: the stressed one or the preceding one.
The dynamic and the tonic features of English word stress prevail over the others. When the tonic or musical component of word stress is involved it is the change of pitch level that is significant in making the syllable prominent, but not the type of direction.
Let’s examine some examples. If the words 'export (n) and ex'port (v) are said on a level tone and each vowel with its own length, it is rather difficult to distinguish them. The tonic or musical component may be helpful in defining the place of stress in a word as it is observed within the syllable marked by the pitch change, which contributes to the syllable prominence.
' Export \ . Ex 'port . \