Chapter 4
第四章
Stress
重讀
Like other languages, English has a system of sounds, stress, and intonation that gives it a rhythm and melody all its own. Although you may be able to pronounce each sound of the language correctly, you need to learn to recognize stress and intonation pattern when you hear them so that they will be easier for you to understand. You also need to learn to use these patterns if others are to understand you more easily.
英語像其它語言一樣,有它自己的一套由聲音、重音和語調(diào)系統(tǒng)形成的英語獨(dú)有的節(jié)奏和旋律。雖然你可能會準(zhǔn)確地發(fā)英語的每一個音,但你在聽到重音和語調(diào)時,還需要學(xué)會如何識別它們,這樣你就能更容易地聽懂別人所說。當(dāng)然,如果你想別人更好地明白你的意思,你也需要學(xué)會如何運(yùn)用這些模式。
Stress refers to the degree of force or loudness you give to a syllable in a word or to a word or words in a phrase or a sentence. Stressing a syllable indicates the importance of that syllable. Stressing a word or words in phrases or sentences indicates the importance of those words.
一個單詞中的一個音節(jié)、詞組里的一個或幾個單詞,或一個句子,讀起來顯得更有力或更響亮一些,此為重音。重讀音節(jié)表示那個音節(jié)的重要性。同樣,重讀詞組里一個或幾個單詞、句子也表明這些單詞是重要的。
Savvy 8第八招
Syllable Stress Patterns 音節(jié)重音
In every word of two or more syllables, one syllable is stressed. That means that the vowel sound in that syllable is said louder, is said on a higher pitch, and is held longer than the other vowel sounds in the same word. Other syllables are less stressed or are weak syllables. Make the vowel sound short, but pronounce the consonant sounds clearly and distinctly.
在有兩個或兩個以上音節(jié)的所有單詞中,總會有一個音節(jié)是重讀的。這就是說,與其它元音相比,在念這個重讀的音節(jié)里,要聲音大些,音調(diào)高些,還有發(fā)音時間長一些。其它音節(jié)就少一些重音,或稱弱讀音節(jié),念的時候時間短一點(diǎn),但輔音發(fā)音一定要清晰。
Listen to the following word groups.
請聽下面的詞。
desert or dessert? personal or personnel? comedy or committee?
Did you hear the difference? Where you place the stress on a syllable can change the meaning of your word. Syllable stress in English appears to be arbitrary. Yet there are rules that can help you. As you begin to memorize the following stress patterns, it's important to realize that there are many words that do not follow the patterns. Some times one word may fall under two possible rules. When this happens, check your dictionary for clarification.
你能分辨這幾組單詞嗎?重音的不同位置能改變單詞的意思。英語中的音節(jié)重音乍看好像沒有什么規(guī)律,不過,還是有幾條規(guī)則會對你有幫助。在開始牢記這些重音模式時,你要知道還有許多單詞并不適用于這些重音模式。有的時候,一個單詞會適用于兩個重音模式,碰到這種情況,你就需要查字典來搞清楚究竟哪個音節(jié)需要重讀。
Most two-syllable words in English are stressed on the first syllable. Words that come from early English origin have this pattern. Many commonly used words fall into this category.
英語中的很多單詞的重音都是在第一個音節(jié)。那些源于早期英語的單詞就是這樣。不少常用的單詞也是屬于這一類。
better, only, over, leader, lady, hidden, careful.
1. Words that have entered English from French are stressed on the last syllable.
源自法語的單詞重音在最后一個音節(jié)。
millionaire, veneer, trustee, burlesque, boutique, chauffeur.
2. Noun compounds: Two or three words that have been put together to form one new word usually carry the stress on the first word.
復(fù)合名詞:兩個或三個單詞一起組成一個新的單詞,重音在第一個音節(jié)。
sidewalk, railroad, paycheck, airport, runway, supermarket.
3. Verb compounds usually place the stress on the first word.
復(fù)合動詞的重音多數(shù)在第一個音節(jié)。
baby-sit, house-sit, cat-sit, car-jack.
4. Phrasal verbs are stressed on the second word. Look out! The same expressions turned to nouns are stressed on the first word. A lookout.
動詞短語的重音在第二個音節(jié)。如:Look out! 同一個動詞短語,如果把重音放在第一個音節(jié),就成了名詞,如:A lookout。
To pay back A pay-back
To put down A put-down
To run down A run-down
To stand by A stand-by
5. Prefixes
前綴
The following one-syllable prefixes are usually unstressed.
以下的單音節(jié)前綴通常不重讀。
○1 Prefix Example
前綴 詞例
co- cooperate
con- continue
com- committee
de- deliver
dis- discuss
ex- exhibit
e- enough
mis- mistake
pre- prepare
pro- protest
re- reward
Certain one-syllable prefixes usually have secondary stress.
有些單音節(jié)前綴通常用次重音念。
○2 Prefix Example
前綴 詞例
bi- biology
in- inept
ir- irresponsible
mal- malnourish
non- nonpoisonous
pan- panorama
post- postpone
re- rewrite
sub- sublet
trans- transfer
un- unhappy
When two-syllable prefixes form a three-syllable word, there is usually primary stress on the first syllable, followed by an unstressed syllable and secondary stress on the third syllable. When two-syllable prefixes form a word of four or more syllables, there is usually secondary stress on the first syllable, not stress on the second, and primary stress on the third. The remaining syllables are unstressed.
如果雙音節(jié)的前綴成為一個三音節(jié)單詞的一部分,強(qiáng)重音通常放在第一個音節(jié),接著第二個音節(jié)是非重音,次重音則放在第三個音節(jié)。如果雙音節(jié)的前綴成為一個有四個或更多音節(jié)的單詞的一部分,次重音通常放在第一個音節(jié),而不是在第二個音節(jié),強(qiáng)重音則是在第三個音節(jié)。其它的音節(jié)都是非重音。
○3 Prefix Three-syllable Word Four or More Syllables Word
前綴 三音節(jié)單詞 四個以上音節(jié)單詞
ante- antedate antecedent
anti- antifreeze antisocial
auto- automat automatic
circum- circumcise circumvention
counter- counterpoint counterclockwise
micro- microscope microscopic
mono- monorail monolingual
multi- multiply multinational
uni- universe universal
ultra- ultrasound ultraviolet
6. Suffixes
后綴
It is important to pronounce suffixes clearly, with the proper stress. Suffixes are almost unstressed. Say the vowel sound quickly and with your mouth almost closed, but pronounce the consonant sounds in these syllables distinctly.
后綴在發(fā)音時,清楚和適度的重音是很重要的。后綴差不多都是不重讀的。在發(fā)后綴的音時,元音發(fā)音要快,口幾乎是全閉著的,但后綴音節(jié)中的輔音發(fā)音要清晰。
○1 Noun suffixes 名詞后綴
名詞后綴 詞例
-ance importance
-apher stenographer
-ate graduate
-ator senator
-ee employee
-ence occurrence
-ent current
-er driver
-eter thermometer
-ison unison
-ist socialist
-ity nationality
-ment government
-ogy biology
-sion expansion
-tion attention
○2 Adjective suffixes 形容詞后綴
形容詞后綴 詞例
-able capable
-al musical
-ent current
-er braver
-est bravest
-ful helpful
-ian Canadian
-ible sensible
-ic automatic
-ical radical
-ier prettier
-iest silliest
-ior superior
-ive excessive
-le multiple
-ory sensory
-ous jealous
○3 Verb suffixes 動詞后綴
動詞后綴 詞例
-ed wanted
-ing reading
○4 Adverb suffixes 副詞后綴
副詞后綴 詞例
-ally practically
-ately privately
-ently permanently
-ly slowly
-ively competitively
-ously seriously
7. A certain group of verbs stress the second syllable while their corresponding noun forms are stressed on the first syllable.
有些單詞的動詞形式的重音在第二個音節(jié),而名詞形式的重音則在第一個音節(jié)。
作名詞 作動詞
combat combat
conduct conduct
conflict conflict
import import
incline incline
increase increase
record record
refund refund
subject subject
survey survey
suspect suspect
Your conduct is terrible.
You should conduct yourself more professionally.
We signed a contract to buy the house.
Now we have to contract an architect to remodel it.
The young boy's father wouldn't permit him to get a driver's permit.
I suspect he is one the of suspects.
There are other two-syllable verbs and nouns or adjectives spelled alike, but they do not follow this pattern. The pattern they follow is to be stressed on the same syllable, whichever that might be, first or second.
這條規(guī)則不適用于其它一些拼寫相同的雙音節(jié)動詞、名詞或形容詞,這些單詞在任何時候重音都是一樣的。
surprise, report, diet, accent.