eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Jan 11th, 2015, 06:51 pm
eslHQ Member
 
Join Date: Jan 11th, 2015
Posts: 4
zoltankr is on a distinguished road
Default American English Word Stress

Hi, this question: Can I be frank?

phonetically looks like:
kæn aɪ bi fræŋk

Can is a modal verb and it can be reduced:
kən aɪ bi fræŋk

I read this in an American accent book:
Quote:
When a word ends in a consonant and the next word begins with a vowel, connect the final consonant to the next vowel, making it sound as if the second word starts with a consonant
So, I linked Can with I:

n_aɪ bi fræŋk

I'm not sure about the word stress, tough. I know, we have two content words: "be" is a verb and "frank" is an adjective. Are both stressed?

Any suggestion is appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Jan 12th, 2015, 09:14 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: American English Word Stress

"be" is only the copula ( a linking verb necessary in English for grammatical reasons), not a "content" word, so would be unlikely to be stressed. Only the adjective frank would be likely to carry stress, unless of course there was a contrastive element implied by one of the other words. So the most likely pronunciation would be :

/kən_aɪ bɪ 'fræŋk/ or even /kən_ə bɪ 'fræŋk/

with "I" and "be" also subject to vowel reduction as they are in unstressed position. If any other word was stressed, (contrastive stress aside) it would probably be "can"

/kæn_ə bɪ 'fræŋk/

Incidentally, this is a matter of sentence stress rather than word stress, and it's phonemic rather than phonetic script - but the answer remains the same It doesn't make much difference in this case whether it's US English or any other variety, either.
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course

Last edited by susan53 : Jan 13th, 2015 at 02:30 am.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 12th, 2015, 10:51 am
eslHQ Member
 
Join Date: Jan 11th, 2015
Posts: 4
zoltankr is on a distinguished road
Default Re: American English Word Stress

Thanks for your reply. Your time is greatly appreciated.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
Electronic Dictionaries in ESL/EFL Learning 10
ESL vacancies in Seoul, Ansan, Daegu, Suwon and other cities in S.Korea. 0
Start your ESL career in S.Korea in various cities. Apply now! Gyopo positions too. 0
Excellent Gyopo, Dec., Jan, Feb. start vacancies in established schools in S.Korea 0
Work at reputable schools in various cities in Korea. Great benefits await you! 0

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
Electronic Dictionaries in ESL/EFL Learning 10
ESL vacancies in Seoul, Ansan, Daegu, Suwon and other cities in S.Korea. 0
Start your ESL career in S.Korea in various cities. Apply now! Gyopo positions too. 0
Excellent Gyopo, Dec., Jan, Feb. start vacancies in established schools in S.Korea 0
Work at reputable schools in various cities in Korea. Great benefits await you! 0


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:22 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2