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unstressed

unstressed

4.9
A part of a word not said with strong emphasis, like the second syllable of banana
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈstrɛst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no acentuado
  • Therefore, we argue that words with word-final unstressed syllables, such as tiger and grasshopper, are not appropriate items to use for the purpose of identifying the occurrence of weak syllable deletion.
  • unstressed syllable
  • unstressed syllable in words

Examples

  • Instead, we recommend that only unstressed, non-final syllables should be considered valid opportunities for evaluating weak syllable deletion (e.g., elephant, computer).

    Academic text (2015)
  • In the word 'banana', the second syllable is unstressed compared to the first syllable.

  • It would be two weak beats or two unstressed beats between each strong.

  • This two syllable foot is like a reverse trophy, so the first syllable is unstressed and the second is stressed, as in to be or not to be.

  • However, children with and without a phonological disorder often find it difficult to accurately produce the initial unstressed syllable in words such as giraffe and policeman.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The second vowel in words like basket and carrot was transcribed as schwa, not /I/, and was therefore analyzed as an unstressed syllable.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Their results showed that coda consonants were more accurately produced in stressed syllables than in unstressed syllables in both word-medial and word-final positions.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Along similar lines, the word-final consonant cluster in elephant occurs in an unstressed syllable and so would not be considered a valid opportunity for evaluating cluster reduction.

    Academic text (2015)
  • For example, because the final consonant in the word "glasses" occurs in an unstressed syllable, it would not be considered a valid opportunity for the error patterns of final consonant deletion or postvocalic devoicing.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Word-final /l/ and word-final nasals, as in the words apple and wagon, were considered to be consonants in unstressed syllables (rather than syllabic consonants).

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

weak
vsunstressed
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A vowel or syllable with little stress when spoken

focuses on absence of emphasis rather than degree of strength
unemphatic
vsunstressed
1 6.2

Said in a quiet or weak way

is specific to phonetic stress rather than general lack of force
unaccented
vsunstressed
  • Specialized
6.3

Parts of words that you say without strong stress

is the general phonetic term for a syllable without emphasis
accentless
vsunstressed
  • Specialized
7.3

A part of a word people do not pronounce with stress and say more softly than other parts

is the same idea phrased without the technical label
atonic
vsunstressed
  • Specialized
9.8

Not having stress in a syllable of a word

is the broader description covering words or syllables lacking emphasis

Antonyms

3.5

Said louder and longer than other syllables

How Stressed

overstressed
  • Specialized
5.6
emphatic
23 5.2
stressed
3.5
unstressed
  • Specialized
4.9

Surface Forms

unstressed positive

Morphology

unstressed = stressed (transparent) = un + stress + ed

The adjective 'stressed' (stress + -ed) is negated by the productive prefix 'un-', giving the straightforward meaning 'not pronounced with emphasis'.

Etymology

Unstressed is made of un- 'not' and stress 'emphasis' or 'pressure'. So an unstressed syllable is one you say more quietly, without emphasis, like the soft beat in a rhythm.