We were very fortunate for a segment regarding accent modification that aired on Channel 9 news (WUSA) last month.  If you missed it, I’m told it can be viewed on their website at www.wusa9.com

I was working on syllable emphasis with a client recently and we were discussing prefixes and syllable emphasis.  American English has many prefixes that change the root word.   The easiest thing to remember about prefixes is that they avoid taking the syllable emphasis in a word. 

We misunderstand, undo, and dislike.  Often we’re impatient, incorrect, or refreshed. Things can be prepaid or nonsensical.  These are a few of the many frequently used prefixes in American English, and they usually do not take the primary emphasis in the syllable.  

Oh!  Did I say prefix?  There’s a prefix that sometimes DOES take the emphasis as in pretest, preview, and preschool. The reason for this is that these words are two syllable nouns… and two syllable nouns usually take the syllable stress on the first syllable. 

This is yet another example of the difficulties of American English.  While there is a ‘usual’ rule, we often find exceptions, or one rule takes precedence over another.   It’s impossible to memorize each of these rules and exceptions, but with a keen ear, you can listen to how others say words that you frequently use. Rehearse them a few times in sentences.  Targeting words you actually use helps you to make modifications to your speech a little at a time. 

Rules for word emphasis, syllable stress and pronunciation can help you to understand how to attack pronouncing new vocabulary.  They provide guidelines for you.  But being able to hear the differences in your pronunciation and syllable stress from others can be developed through training to improve your listening skills.  Listening skills are an important part of any accent modification program.

Sharon Heffley is a speech-language pathologist specializing in communication skills for accented individuals.   She can be reached at 703-757-5353 or visit her website at www.accentmodification.com