Stress, rhythm, and intonation

Please re-CORD the new RE-cord.

Stress the second syllable in the verb and the first syllable in the noun.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

I will pre-SENT the PRE-sent tomorrow.

Keep the verb's final syllable prominent and the noun's first syllable prominent.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

The TRAIN LEAVES at NINE from the MAIN STATION.

Promote content words and keep grammar words lighter.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

Maya ordered the GREEN NOTEBOOK.

Place the main prominence on the new descriptive noun phrase.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

COULD I HAVE ə CUP əv TEA?

Reduce a and of without deleting the content words.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

BREAD ən BUTTER is READY fə YOU.

Use weak and and for between stronger content words.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

After the BRIDGE | turn LEFT | and WAIT by the LIBRARY.

Pause only at the two marked meaning boundaries.

Evidence: fluency · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

If the meeting ends EARLY | we can catch the EARLIER TRAIN.

Separate the condition from its result with one short boundary.

Evidence: fluency · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

I asked for the BLUE folder.

Make blue the pitch peak to correct the colour, not the object.

Evidence: intonation · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

She is arriving on TUESDAY.

Move the nuclear stress to Tuesday to correct the day.

Evidence: intonation · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

The report is FINISHED ↘

Use a clear final fall for a complete neutral statement.

Evidence: intonation · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

You sent the FINAL VERSION ↗

Use a final rise for a genuine confirmation check, not every statement.

Evidence: intonation · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

Please send the ADDRESS | before the OFFICE CLOSES.

Aim for steady speech with one planned boundary rather than rushing the end.

Evidence: fluency · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

The proposal has TWO BENEFITS | but we should ALSO discuss the COST | and the DELIVERY RISK.

Distribute the long turn across three balanced groups without filler chains.

Evidence: fluency · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

DOGS CHASE CATS. | The DOGS will have CHASED the CATS.

Keep the three main beats perceptible even when unstressed syllables are inserted.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.

A pho-TOG-ra-pher can de-VEL-op a PHO-to-graph in a DARK ROOM.

Maintain lexical stress while reducing surrounding syllables.

Evidence: stress rhythm · No single L1 outcome is assumed; syllable-timed transfer can make English prominence and reduction less distinct.