The influence of the rhythmic tendency on word-stress sys in modern Eng

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYL

The syllabic as a phonological unit performs three functions: consti­tutive, distinctive, identificatory. They are closely connected.

1. CONSTITUTIVE FUNCTION. Syl-s constitute words, phrases, sentences through the combination of their prosodic features: loudness – stress, pitch-tone, duration – length and tmpo. Syl-s can be stressed, unstressed, high, mid, low, rising, falling, long, short. All these features constitute the stress pattern of words, tonal and rhythmic structure of an utter­ance, help to perform distinctive variations on the syllabic level.

2. DISTINCTIVE AND DIFFERENTIATORY FUNCTION. There are rather many combinations in English distinguished from each other by means of the difference in the place of the syllabic boundary: a name — an aim, ice cream — I scream.

The distinctive, differentiatory function of the syllabic boundary makes it possible to introduce the term "juncture". Close juncture or conjunc­ture occurs between sounds within one syllable. Open juncture, disjunctive or internal open juncture occurs between two syllables.

3. IDENTIFICATORY FUNCTION. This function is conditioned by the pronunciation of the speaker. The listener can understand the exact meaning of the utterance only if he perceives the correct syllabic boundary — "syllabodisjuncture", e.g. pea stalks стебли гороха — peace talks мирные переговоры; my train мой поезд — might rain возможен дождь. The existence of such pairs demands special attention to teaching not only the correct pronunciation of sounds but also the observation of the correct place for syllabodisjuncture.

The rhythmic tendency is very strong in modern English. Under the influence of rhythm a shifting of word-stress can be observed in words with secondary stress, e. g.: qualification — 'just 'qualification (emphatic variant).

The rhythmic stress affects the stress pattern of a great number of words in the English language. This results in the secondary accent, e.g. refu'gee, temploy'ee,,engi'neer, pictu'resque, occu'pation,,recom-men'dation, etc. Under the influence of rhythm compounds of three elements may have a strong stress on the second element; e. g. hot 'water bottle (грелка).

In everyday speech the following variants of stress patterns can also be observed:

1. stylistically conditioned accentual variants, e. g. territory

2. individual, free accentual variants, e. g. hospitable

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