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This is PART TWO of four parts. Topic: Word Stress. In this segment I explain syllable separation and how to learn the placement of word stress. The main exercise of this lesson begins: How to pronounce the 50 states and capitals of the USA. Level: All levels, though the vocabulary and rate of speech in the interviews with native speakers will challenge beginners.
- Learn how to count the number of syllables and find out where to put stress
- Learn the correct stress of some names of the US states (A-G)
- Practice and listen how another native speaker pronounces the name of the US states
Now, when we are talking about word stress, we’re talking about words with more than one syllable. So, how do you know the number of syllables a word has? The clue is to count the vowel sounds. Let me show you something. Now here are some words to help to explain how we count syllables. At the beginning of this lesson, I talked about getting a job on a steamboat. I traveled along the river and I saw different states. To count the syllables, we’re going to count vowel sounds. In this first word, job there is one vowel sound, o. Phonetic transcriptions looks like that. So one vowel sound, one syllable. Next word, steamboat, how many vowel sounds? e,o, phonetic transcriptions i, o, so we have two syllables, two vowel sounds, two syllables. These first two words reminds you that a vowel sound can be spelled with one letter, or sometimes spelled with two.
Let’s look at the second word, river, how many vowel sounds? two, i, e, two vowel sounds, two syllables. States, how many vowel sounds? one, a. This word reminds you that sometimes you may see a vowel, but it’s silent; e is often as a silent vowel. One vowel sound, one syllable. And down here the word, different. In very slow careful speech, especially formal speech, you might get this pronunciation, different, but often and fast speech, you loose the middle sound and you get difrent. So again, how do you know the number of syllables a word has? You can look in a dictionary, and also listen to how people use the word. Most American say this word with two vowel sounds, i and e, so in fast speech you get difrent. So now you know how many syllables that are in each word, we can talk about which syllable is stressed. Now we can only talk about word stress when there is more than one syllable, so we not going to look at job, and we’re not going to look at states.
In steamboat, you either look in a dictionary and see that the first syllable is stressed or hear people speak, and they’ll say steamboat. River, you’ll either hear people speak or you’ll look in a dictionary and understand that the first syllable is stressed, river. And then this last word, again you either look in a dictionary or hear people speak, and they’ll say different, stress on the first syllable. [see screen]
How did you do? I’m sure you did fine. If you found a little difficult though, go back and try again, pay attention to the vowel sounds. Those vowel sounds are your clue. [see screen]
INTERVIEW
Have you been to all 50 states?
No I haven’t been to all 50 states, about 23. Wow …
What’s your home state?
My home state is Massachusetts.
What’s the capital of Massachusetts?
Boston, Massachusetts.
Can you tell me some vacation states?
Sure, New Hampshire. Maine, Vermont, and I spend time in New York. North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida.
Is there a state you’d like to visit in the future?
Actually I’d like to visit Alaska.
Why?
I’d like to see the glacial, I’d like to see Mt. McKinley or Denali, which have pretty color and I’ve never been in Pacific Ocean, so I’d like to see that as well.
Have you traveled to the South?
I traveled a number of times.
Which states have you been to?
Uh, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, I’ve never been to Mississippi, Alabama or Arkansas, I consider them seven states. I’ve been to Tennessee, and never been to Kentucky so. Those are most seven states, I think I have only missed four what I consider seven states.
Which state do you think is the most beautiful state?
It’s tossing between Maine and North Carolina for me.
Have you been to Washington?
Washington D.C. or Washington state?
Either.
Uh… Washington D.C. yes, Washington state, no.
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