American English - Phrase: Not Exactly. Sentence stress.

Question

Hi, I would like to hear the opinion of a native speaker.

The word EXACTLY phonetically looks like: [?g'zæk li].
It's a three syllable word with primary stress on the second syllable.

The phrase NOT EXACTLY looks like: [n?t?_?g'zæk li]. The t is between two vowels, so we have a flap T and the two words link together.

What confuses me is this, do we need any stress on the word NOT? If we stress the word NOT we will get something like this:

1st syllable UP - 2nd syllable DOWN - 3rd syllable UP - 4th syllable DOWN, an UP-down rhythm

Should I stress the word NOT or is not required? Your time is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Zoltán KirályShould I stress the word NOT or is not required?

Like most negative words, it takes a secondary stress in that series of syllables. The 't' still flaps for me.

CalifJim · Answer

Zoltán KirályThe word EXACTLY phonetically looks like: [?g'zæk li].

I put an unreleased /t/ after the /k/. It sounds more like a brief silence there. In my opinion, you need that in order to prevent the formation of the consonant cluster /kl/, which will sound wrong.

Zoltán KirályThe phrase NOT EXACTLY looks like: [n?t?_?g'zæk li]. The t is between two vowels, so we have a flap T and the two words link together.

A flap T at the end of "not". Yes.

Zoltán Királydo we need any stress on the word NOT?

No. Not at all for most situations where you say "not exactly".

Zoltán KirályIf we stress the word NOT we will get something like this:1st syllable UP - 2nd syllable DOWN - 3rd syllable UP - 4th syllable DOWN, an UP-down rhythm

I'm not sure if I can follow all that, but it's most likely irrelevant anyway.

Zoltán KirályShould I stress the word NOT or is not required?

I think you just asked this, didn't you?

The answer is "no".

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

I have to disagree: I hear 3 stress levels in 'not exactly'.  The main stress falls on 'zak', but 'not' carries secondary stress: it is stressed more than 'eg' and 'ly'.

CalifJim · Answer

Mister Micawber...disagree... The main stress falls on 'zak', but 'not' carries secondary stress: it is stressed more than 'eg' and 'ly'.

I don't who you're disagreeing with, but that's what I'd say about the stress pattern as well.
Is that what all that UP and DOWN means, or are you disputing the accuracy of the UPs and DOWNs that the OP has provided, whatever they mean?

A little off-topic.

Using my own notation, I'd classify the stress pattern of "not exactly" as 2.2, the same as you do. Each number represents a group of syllables with a stressed syllable first. The most stressed stressed syllable (primary stress) comes after the dot. Thus 'disciplinarian' is 3.3, 'interdisciplinary' is 2.32, 'notation' is 1.2, 'Kalamazoo' is 3.1 and 'photograph' is 0.21.

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

Hmm. I thought I was disagreeing with you:

CalifJimZoltán Király: Should I stress the word NOT or is not required?I think you just asked this, didn't you? The answer is "no".

I guess I misunderstood.

CalifJim · Answer

OK. That's understandable. I thought the OP was asking whether to give extra emphasis to "not", as we do with "do" in "Yes, I DO like squid", thus, "NOT exactly" instead of "not exactly" in a normal tone of voice. So it looks like maybe I'm the one who misunderstood.

CJ

American English - Phrase: Not Exactly. Sentence stress.

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