Syllables and Word Stress - English Pronunciation Lesson

英语发音 - 音节和单词重读

Hi, I’m Mikey.

嗨，我是Mikey。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about syllables and stress in English.

在本节课中，您能学习英语音节和重音。

Do you know what stress means?

您知道重音意思是什么吗？

It’s one of the most important pronunciation points in English.

那是英语发音重点中最重要的一个。

When you speak English, do other people find it difficult to understand what you’re saying?

当您说英语时，有人会觉得很难明白 您在说什么吗？

If so, you might not be using stress correctly.

如果是这样，您可能没有正确地使用重音。

Pronouncing words with the correct stress can make a big difference to your English:

有正确重音的单词发音会让您的英语 有很大的不同：

your English will immediately sound clearer and more natural.

您的英语听起来会立刻变得 很清晰并更自然。

You’ll learn all about stress in this lesson, but first, we need to talk about syllables.

您会在本节课里学到所有的重音， 但首先，我们需要谈谈音节。

Listen to four words:

听四个单词；

fast person

fast person

beautiful information

beautiful information

Do you know how many syllables these words have?

您知道这些单词有多少个音节吗？

Fast has one syllable: fast Person has two syllables: per-son.

Fast有一个音节： fast Person有两个音节： per-son。

Beautiful has three syllables: beau-ti-ful Information has four syllables: in-for-ma-tion

Beautiful有三个音节：beau-ti-ful Information有四个音节in-for-ma-tion

A syllable has one vowel sound (and only one vowel sound) and one or more consonant sounds.

一个音节有一个元音（并且只有一个元音） 以及一个或好几个辅音。

Let’s do some more practice.

我们来做更多的练习。

Look at four more words:

再多看四个单词：

breakfast banana

breakfast banana

tomorrow university

tomorrow university

How many syllables do they have?

他们有多少个音节？

Breakfast has two syllables: break-fast.

Breakfast 有两个音节： break-fast.

Banana has three syllables: ba-na-na.

Banana有三个音节： ba-na-na。

Tomorrow has three syllables: to-mor-row.

Tomorrow有三个音节：to-mor-row。

University has five syllables: u-ni-ver-si-ty.

University有五个音节： u-ni-ver-si-ty。

So, this lesson isn’t really about syllables; it’s about stress.

因此，本节课并非真正与音节有关， 而是与重音有关。

What’s the connection between syllables and stress?

音节和重音之间有什么连接呢？

Think about the word banana.

考虑一下单词banana。

Banana has three syllables.

Banana有三个音节。

Do you pronounce all the syllables the same: bah-nah-nah?

您发三个音节都一样： bah-nah-nah？

No, you don't—one syllable is stronger: ba-NA-na.

不是，您不是这样的—一个音节是比较强的： ba-NA-na.

This is stress.

这就是重音。

If a word has one syllable, you don't need to think about stress.

如果一个单词有一个音节，您不需要 考虑重音。

But, if a word has two syllables or more, one syllable is always stressed: it has a

但是，如果单词有两个或两个以上的音节， 一个音节总是要更强的，它有一个

strong, clear pronunciation.

强的、清晰的发音。

Let’s practice pronouncing word stress correctly.

让我们练习正确地发单词重音。

Let’s look at an example you just saw.

让我们看下您刚看到的一个例子。

banana

banana

Do you remember where the stress is?

您记得重音在哪吗？

It’s on the second syllable: ba-NA-na.

那是在第二个音节：ba-NA-na。

What makes the stressed syllable different?

什么让重音音节不同？

There are three things you need to do to pronounce stress correctly.

要正确地发重音， 有三件事您要做。

One: the stressed syllable should be louder.

一：重音音节必须大声念。

Two: the stressed syllable should be a little higher.

二：念重音音节的音调必须要高一点。

Three: the stressed syllable should be a little longer in time.

三：念重音音节的时间必须长一点。

Let’s practice.

让我们练习一下。

First, listen to three words you saw before: person

首先，听三个您之前看到过的单词： person

beautiful information

beautiful information

Here, I was exaggerating the stress so that you can hear it clearly.

这里，我夸大了重音，所以 您清晰地听到了它。

You don’t need to pronounce the stress this strongly.

您不必发重音这么强。

However, when you practice, it’s a good idea to try to overpronounce the stress a

然而，在您练习时，试着发重音 过头一点是

little.

一个好主意。

This will make sure that you are pronouncing it correctly.

这会确定您在正确地发音。

So, where is the stress in these three words?

那么，这三个单词的重音在哪？

Listen again, and this time, repeat the words after me: person,

再听一遍，这一次，跟着我重复念单词： person,

beautiful, information.

beautiful, information.

Let’s try one more time: person, beautiful,

让我们再多试一次： person, beautiful,

information.

information.

How was that?

怎样？

Could you pronounce the stress clearly?

您能清晰地发重音吗？

Next, let’s look at four more words you saw before:

接下来，让我们在多看四个您 之前看到过的单词：

breakfast banana

breakfast banana

tomorrow university

tomorrow university

This time, I pronounced the stress in a more natural way.

这一次，我用一个更自然的方式来发重音。

Could you hear it?

您可以听到吗？

Where is the stress in these four words?

这四个单词的重音在哪？

Let’s try one more time: breakfast, banana,

让我们再多试一次： breakfast, banana,

tomorrow, university.

tomorrow, university.

When you look up a word, you can find the stress by looking at the phonetic transcription.

当您看一个单词时，您可以通过音标 转录的方式找到重音。

The thing that looks like an apostrophe shows you where the stress is.

那个看起来像撇号的东西 告诉您重音在哪。

When you see this apostrophe, the next syllable is the stressed syllable.

当您看到这个撇号，下一个 音节就是重音音节。

When you write down new vocabulary, make sure you record the stress, too.

在您写下新的词汇时， 也确定您记录了重音。

You can put a mark over the stressed syllable, or underline it.

您可以在重音音节上做一个标记， 或在下面下划线。

At this point, you might be thinking: are there any rules about word stress?

关于这一点，您也许在想： 有单词重音规则吗？

How do I know where the word stress is if I don’t have a dictionary?

如果我没有一本字典，我怎么 知道单词重音在哪？

Let’s talk about that.

让我们谈谈这个。

We’ve got good news and bad news for you.

我们有好的消息和糟糕的消息给您。

The good news is that there are some rules about word stress in English.

好消息是英语里有一些单词重音的规则。

The bad news is that the rules don’t cover everything, and even the rules which you do

坏消息是这个规则不是适用于所有的单词， 甚至您用的规则不是在

have don’t work all the time.

任何时候都有用。

Here’s one rule which is quite useful.

这有一个规则是十分有用的。

It’s about words with two syllables.

那是有关两个音节的单词的。

Look at five words:

看五个单词：

picture minute

picture minute

money doctor

money doctor

water

water

All these words have two syllables.

所有的单词都有两个音节。

Where’s the stress?

重音在哪？

In all the words, the stress is on the 1st syllable.

在所有的单词里，重音 是在第一个音节。

There’s a reason for this: can you work it out?

这是有一个理由的： 您可以找出来吗？

What connects these five words?

这五个单词有什么连接？

These words are all nouns.

他们都是名词。

Nouns with two syllables usually have stress on the 1st syllable.

有两个音节的名词，重音 通常都在第一个音节。

Let’s practice saying the words together.

让我们练习一起说这些单词。

Repeat after me: picture, minute, money, doctor, water.

跟着我念： picture, minute, money, doctor, water.

This is also true for most adjectives with two syllables:

这也适用于大部分有 两个音节的形容词：

happy yellow

happy yellow

useful formal

useful formal

tiring

tiring

What about verbs?

动词呢？

Look at some examples and try to work out the rule:

看一些例子并试着找出规则：

decide forget

decide forget

explain arrive

explain arrive

repeat

repeat

Can you hear the stress?

您能听到重音吗？

The stress is on the second syllable.

重音是在第二个音节。

Let’s practice saying the words together.

让我们一起练习说这些单词。

Repeat after me: decide, forget, explain, arrive, repeat.

跟着我念：decide, forget, explain, arrive, repeat。

So, most nouns and adjectives with two syllables have the stress on the first syllable, and

那么，大部分有两个音节的名词和形容词， 重音是在第一个音节，

most verbs have the stress on the second syllable.

大部分动词的重音是在第二个音节。

Be careful, because there are many common exceptions, like hotel, happen, exam, or finish.

请注意，有很多常见的例外， 像是hotel, happen, exam, or finish.

What about longer words?

那比较长的单词呢？

Are there any rules you can use to find the stress?

有任何您可以用来找出重音的规则吗？

In three-syllable words, the stress can be anywhere; it can be at the beginning:

在三个音节的单词里，重音可以在任何 一个音节；可以在第一个音节：

anyone beautiful

anyone beautiful

possible

possible

It can be in the middle:

可以在中间：

computer tomorrow

computer tomorrow

expensive

expensive

It can also be at the end, although this is less common:

也可以在最后，尽管这很少见：

afternoon employee

afternoon employee

Japanese

Japanese

Let’s practice!

让我们来练习。

Repeat after me: beautiful, tomorrow, employee.

跟着我念: beautiful, tomorrow, employee.

Let’s try three more: anyone, computer, Japanese.

让我们试着看更多的单词： anyone, computer, Japanese.

In words with four or more syllables, the stress is almost always in the middle of the

在有四个或更多音节的单词里， 重音几乎总是在中间的音节，

word, not on the first or last syllable.

不是在第一个或最后一个音节。

For example:

例如：

information communicate

information communicate

photographer

photographer

Try saying the words after me: information, communicate, photographer.

试着跟我读： information, communicate, photographer.

There are some other rules which can help you to find the stress in longer words.

有一些其他的规则能帮您 在长的单词中找重音。

Let’s look together.

让我们再一起看看。

If a word ends -tion, -sion or -cian, then the stress is always on the second last syllable:

如果单词以tion、sion或cian结尾， 那么重音总是在倒数第二个音节：

information discussion

information discussion

politician

politician

Can you think of three more words like this?

您能多想三个像这样的单词吗？

There are many, but here are three more suggestions: situation, revision, electrician.

有很多，但是这有三个： situation, revision, electrician.

The same rule is true for words ending -ic:

相同的规则适用于ic结尾的单词：

economic dramatic

economic dramatic

Atlantic scientific

Atlantic scientific

Again, all these words have the stress on the second last syllable.

一样，所有这些单词的重音在倒数第二个音节。

If a word ends with the letter -y and has three or more syllables, then the stress is

如果一个单词以字母y结尾，并有 三个或更多的音节，那么

two syllables before the last one.

重音在倒数第三个音节。

For example:

例如：

biology luckily

biology luckily

activity possibility

activity possibility

That means, if a word has three syllables and ends in -y, the stress is almost always

那就是说，如果一个单词有三个音节，并以 y结尾，重音几乎总是

on the first syllable:

在第一个音节：

chemistry pregnancy

chemistry pregnancy

robbery

robbery

There’s one more rule which could help you here: if a longer word is made from a shorter

这还有一个规则可以帮您：如果一个 比较长的单词是有一个较短的

root word, then the stress is generally in the same place as the root word.

词根组成的，那么重音通常是 在与词根相同的地方。

For example:

例如：

comfort comfortable

comfort comfortable

discomfort uncomfortable

discomfort uncomfortable

comfortably comforting

comfortably comforting

In all these words, the stress is in the same place as the root word, comfort.

在所有的这些单词中，重音是在 与词根相同的地方，comfort。

However, the rules you saw before take priority.

然而，您之前看到的规则要优先。

This means that the stress can move when you make a longer word from a root word.

这意味着，在您用一个词根在做一个 比较长的单词时，重音可以移动。

For example:

例如：

photograph -> photography -> photographic economy -> economic

photograph -> photography -> photographic economy -> economic

educate -> education Okay, now you’ve learned about stress, how

educate -> education 好了，现在您学了重音、怎样

to pronounce it, and how you can find the stress in different words.

去发音、以及您怎样可以在不同 的单词里找出重音。

But, there’s still one more very important thing you should know about.

但是，仍然有一个您必须知道的很重要的事情。

Want to know a secret that will improve your English pronunciation really fast?

您想知道会真正地快速提高您的 英语发音的秘密吗？

Here’s the most important point about word stress: it’s about contrast.

这有一个有关单词重音的最重要的要点： 那是关于对比。

That means, when you pronounce word stress, it’s not just about the stressed syllable.

那意思是，在您发单词重音时， 那不仅是重读音节。

You also need to think about the unstressed syllables.

您也需要去考虑不重读的音节。

Remember that to pronounce stress, you make the stressed syllable louder, higher and longer.

记住发重音，您要更大声、更高声调 以及念更长。

Stress is about contrast, so the opposite is true for unstressed syllables: you need

重音是有对比的，所以对不重读 的音节，相反的是：您需要

to make them quieter, lower and shorter.

更轻声、更低声调以及念更短。

Let’s look at three words you’ve already practiced:

让我们看三个您已经练习过的单词：

banana person

banana person

information

information

To pronounce the words well, you need to think about the unstressed syllables, too.

要发好单词的音，您也需要考虑 非重读的音节。

Often, the vowel sounds in the unstressed syllables are reduced to schwa sounds--/ə/,

通常，在非重读音节的元音声音 要减弱成schwa音--/ə/，

or short /ɪ/ sounds.

或者成短 /ɪ/音。

‘Reduced’ means the vowel sounds are shorter and weaker.

‘Reduced’ 意思是元音声音会更短以及更弱。

For example, in the word banana, the stress is on the second syllable: ba-NA-na.

例如，单词 banana，重音是在 第二个音节： ba-NA-na。

The stressed ‘a’ has an /aː/ sound, but the other two ‘a’s’ have schwa sounds:

重读的 ‘a’有一个 /aː/的音，但是 其他两个 ‘a’s’ 有schwa音：

banana.

banana.

In the word person, the first syllable is stressed, and the second syllable has a schwa

单词person，第一个音节是重读的， 第二个音节有schwa音：

sound: person.

person。

And in information, the syllables before and after the stressed syllable reduce to schwas:

单词information，在重读单词之前以及 之后的音节减弱成schwas音：

information.

information.

Unstressed syllables can’t always be reduced, but they often can be.

非重读的音节不是总是减弱的， 但是通常他们可以减弱。

If a vowel sound is reduced, it most often shortens to a schwa sound.

如果一个元音减弱了，那通常 大部分都发音短成一个schwa音。

We’ll finish with a simple tip to help you pronounce word stress clearly and naturally.

我们会用一个简单的窍门帮您清晰和 自然地发单词重音来结束本节课。

Focus on the stressed syllable, and put more stress on it than you think you need.

着重在重音音节，而且要比 您认为所需的更多。

Pronounce the unstressed syllables as fast as you can.

尽可能快地发非重读的音节。

If you do this, you’ll have contrast in your pronunciation, and this will make your

如果这样做，您会在您的发音上 有对比，这会让您的

word stress sound natural and clear.

单词重音发音自然并清晰。

Finally, we have a question for you: what do you think is the most important pronunciation

最终，我们有一个问题：您认为 最重要的清晰地说英语的

skill to speak clearly in English?

发音技能是什么？

Leave your suggestions in the comments!

留下您的建议在留言板！

For more practice with this topic, check out the full lesson on our website: Oxford Online

想要在这个主题上有更多的练习， 在我们的网站上看完整的课程：

English dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！