7.1 词重音

英语中的词重音分为三种:
1) 主重音(Primary Stress)。主重音节发音时,元音发出的气流较重,较长,因而读得较响亮。重音符号用“ˈ”表示,标在重读音节左上方,但单音节词不需注出重音符号,如fast /fa:st/, worker /ˈwɔːkə/, salary /ˈsæləri/等。
2) 次重音(Secondary Stress)。在一些多音节词中,除了主重音外,还有次重音,即发音强度介于主重音和轻音之间的音节。次重音符号标在左下方。如:information /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃn/,psychology /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/等。
3) 弱重音(Weak Stress)。弱重音是单词中响亮度最弱的音节,也被称为非重读音节,没有任何重音符号。

如:ago /əˈɡəʊ/,mother /ˈmʌðə/,possible /ˈpɒsəbl/等。

练习一 朗读下列单词,注意其重音

1) knife place prompt clear rain tempt trend twin urge stretch switch please
2) photo article usage author family officer theory title traffic vision triumph video
3) decide disuse allow destroy excite inform before again asleep unique unload portray
4) unknown eighteen Chinese rewrite Misdirect world-class armchair paper tiger cotton cloth single-handed warmhearted sweet-tempered big-eyed so-called good-looking hardworking semiofficial
5) psychology universe economy dramatically biological capability catastrophe complicated advertisement historical

练习二 朗读下列单词,注意其重音及意义

instinct (n.) 本能    instinct(a.) 充满着的
invalid (n.) 病弱者    invalid(a.) 无效的
minute (n.) 分(钟)    minute(a.)微小的
content (n.) 内容    content(a.)满意的
absent(a.) 缺席的    absent(v.)使缺席
present(a.)出席的    present(v.)赠送
perfect(a.) 完美的    perfect(v.)使完美

7.2 句重音

众所周知,我们在用语言进行交流的时候,不是一个一个单词独立、间断地蹦出来的,而是一句句句子或至少一组组词地表达的。在句子中,由于种种原因,有些词会读得重一点,而另一些词会读得轻一点,从而使话语抑扬顿挫,悦耳动听。一般来说,句重音分为三种:
1)表意重音(Sense Stress);
2)逻辑重音(Logical Stress);
3)感情重音(Emotional Stress)。

7.2.1 表意重音(Sense Stress)

句子中的表意重音一般根据言语者所要表达的意思来决定。需要重读的词通常是指那些比较重要、具有实在意义的词,如名词,动词,形容词,副词,数词,感叹词,否定词等,而介词、冠词、连词、人称代词、助动词、系动词和情态动词等虚词一般都不需要重读。

7.2.2 逻辑重音(Logical Stress)

当言语者根据自己的意愿或当时的情况,需要特别强调或突出某个句子中的某一个词时,我们称这种重音为逻辑重音。

7.2.3 感情重音(Emotional Stress)

当言语者需要抒发自己的强烈情感而重读所要强调的词时,我们称之为情感重音,它一般采用降调。情感重音常用于感叹句中。

练习三 朗读下列句子,注意其重音

1. One cannot see the wood for the trees.
2. A book that remains shut is but a block.
3. I'm very grateful for your help.
4. I have a different opinion.
5. I grew up and had to go to work.
6. Do you prefer Chinese food or Western food?
7. You are likely to be scolded if you do this.
8. The news that he will go abroad is known to none.
9. Now that all the work is done, we can have a good rest.
10. Come in, please.
11. That's the stone I'm looking for.
12. Will you go to the concert? Yes, I will.
13. I've been here for some months.
14. Some people like coffee and others don't.
15. The audience was not interested at all in his speech.
16. -- Linda, Mary, where are the twins? Please answer the telephone.
    -- I am washing the dishes.
17. It’s not me, dad. It’s John who is making the noise.
18. I went there on foot, not by bus.
19. Gee! Whiz! I hope it were my birthday everyday!