How does stress change the meaning of English words such as permit and record?
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pronunciation
Diagram depicting the location of human vocal organs and possible places of articulation used for speech.
In English, stress—the intensity or relative loudness given to a syllable during speech—can function to distinguish between different parts of speech, such as nouns and verbs.12
When the stress is shifted, the grammatical category and meaning of the word change:
- Nouns: In words like "permit" and "record," the primary stress is typically placed on the first syllable (e.g., PER-mit). This indicates the word is functioning as a noun.12
- Verbs: When the primary stress is shifted to the second syllable (e.g., per-MIT), the word functions as a verb.13
This phonetic emphasis allows speakers to differentiate meanings within the same word form, a common feature in English pronunciation.