Page 52 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

D Language in Use

Sounds and Pronunciation

In English, words are pronounced with stress. This means that some parts of a word are spoken
with more prominence than others. To understand stress we need to know how words are
divided into syllables.

Every word can be divided into syllables. A syllable contains one vowel sound and one or more
consonant sounds. For example, the word sell has only one syllable consisting of:

consonant s + vowel e + consonant ll 
The word merchant has two syllables:

syllable 1: mer = consonant m + vowel e(r) 

syllable 2: chant = consonant ch + vowel a + consonant n + consonant t 

Look at the way some words have been divided into syllables:
king ex pe ri ment in ter net
1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

daugh ter gi raffe com mu ni cate
1 2 1 2 1 2 3 4

The syllable that receives stress is heard louder than the others. If a word has only one syllable,
it is stressed. You need to consult a standard dictionary to find out the exact placement of
stress.

D1 Divide the following words correctly into syllables.

sleep computer meditate compensate

travel elephant purchase undo
military postponement offer rejoice

cartoon office cry

D2 Find out and mark the stressed syllable in each of the following words with the help of a
standard dictionary. Then practise speaking these words with proper stress.
canteen conclude away increase

different destroy about because

milk correct example become

Appreciation

 Sarojini Naidu has used language that appeals to our senses and makes us feel like we
are in the vibrant bazaar with her. The colour words in the first stanza help us visualize the

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