English 4 Listening

Week 6 Unstressed Syllables

Why are unstressed syllables important? Some things to think about…

1. Can you hear every syllable in a sentence clearly?2. Do unstressed syllables sound the same as they

appear?3. What words make up unstressed syllables in a

sentence?4. When we hear stressed syllables, how do we fill in

the gaps with the changed or missing unstressed syllables?

5. But why are they important?

1. Can you hear every syllable in a sentence clearly?Not when native speakers speak.2. Do unstressed syllables sound the same as they

appear? Usually not. 3. What words make up unstressed syllables in a

sentence? Function words4. When we hear stressed syllables, how do we fill in

the gaps with the changed or missing unstressed syllables? Guessing from sound, guessing from context

6. But why are they important?

Source: http://www.pronuncian.com/

Listen as I read these sentences with and without unstressed syllables.

Source: http://www.writingrhymeandmeter.com/

Some facts…

• any vowel (except some diphthongs) can be reduced to • / / or /I/. • In spoken English, there are many more

unstressed syllables than there are stressed syllables.

• two vowels, / / and /I/, are the most frequently used vowel sounds in spoken English.

The schwa