This is the pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds in speech.
Rhythm
Which syllables are longer and louder?
Stressed syllables
A group of words spoken together is called what?
Rhythmic group
Which words are usually stressed in a sentence?
Content word
Which language type is English in terms of rhythm?
Stress-timed language
Which syllables are shorter and weaker?
Unstressed syllables
How many main stressed words are usually in a rhythmic group?
One
Which words are spoken quickly and softly?
Function word
What makes speech sound natural and fluent?
Rhythm
What is emphasis on one syllable in a word called?
Word stress
What do rhythmic groups help improve in speech?
Fluency / clarity
What does sentence stress help show?
Importance/meaning
What does rhythm control in speech?
Stress and timing of sounds
Which part of speech usually carries the main meaning in a sentence?
Stressed words
What is the main feature of a rhythmic group?
One main stress per group
What creates the natural flow in a sentence?
Alternation of stressed and unstressed words
What happens to speech without rhythm?
It sounds unnatural and unclear
What can word stress help distinguish in English?
Different meanings of word
Why do we use rhythmic groups in speech?
To make speech easier to understand
What do we call words like articles and prepositions in rhythm?
Weak (unstressed) words