Exercise: Stress & Vowel Reduction KEY
Note that, when the primary stress 'moves off' of a vowel, that vowel will
then be pronounced as schwa, in most cases (the vowel spelled 'i' in 'impose'
and some of the other words doesn't always change when stress is removed). In
the key below, a hyphen is inserted between syllables. Syllables carrying primary
stress are underlined. Secondary-stressed syllables are in italics.
Vowels that would/could be pronounced as schwa are CAPITALIZED in boldface.
If you disagree about some of the secondary stress assignments, don't worry
about it.
| Column I | Column II | Column I | Column II |
| Im-pose | im-pO-si-tIOn | prE-pare | pre-pA-ra-tIOn |
| con-trast* | cOn-tras-tIve | por-no-grA-phy | por-nO-gra-phIc |
| rE-late | re-lA-tIve | rE-veal | re-vE-la-tIOn |
| in-dI-cate | In-di-cA-tIve | re-gAl | rE-ga-li-A |
B. Mark the primary and secondary stress in each of the following words. Again, use your own pronunciation or a dictionary for help where you need it (esp. for secondary stresses). Then, circle each vowel which you hear as schwa. Be careful not to use overly 'careful' or slow pronunciation (if you do, you won't produce any schwas!) Use normal-speed pronunciation.
Same as above. Some of these words are difficult to cut up into syllables; if you made different cuts, don't worry too much about it, especially if these are in onsets/codas. Once again, the vowel spelled 'i' often does not change to schwa, even in an unstressed syllable.
1. hos-pI-tA-lize 2. re-mI-ni-scEnce 3. sec-rE-ta-ri-Al 4. dIs-tin-guIsh
5. app-lI-cA-ble - or- App-li-cA-ble 6. app-lI-ca-tIOn 7. la-bY-rInth
8. hy-pO-der-mIc 9. Ex-tin-guIsh 10. com-pO-si-tIOn 11. tour-nA-mEnt
12. ex-trA-cU-rric-U-lAr 13. pIc-to-ri-Al 14. bU-reau-crA-cy
15.bu-rEAU-cra-tIc 16. phos-phO-re-scEnce