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Pter Posted 18 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Defense - stress on first syllable only in sports?
In NBA, they always say the word "defense" with the stress on the syllable. Is this pronunciation only used in sports?
Top answer
Not just in sports; also in the military or whenever it is the opposite of offense .
- Not just in sports; also in the military or whenever it is the opposite of offense .
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7 Answers
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Not just in sports; also in the military or whenever it is the opposite of offense.
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Maybe my brain's just in a fog, but I can't think of a military example. Can you help with a sentence, Mr. M.? Thanks.
CJ
CJ
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I can now see that there may be differences in pronunciation, but I would pronounce this one as a trochee :
This fort was once the main defense of the island.
This fort was once the main defense of the island.
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So, which one do you say?
By the way, what is a trochee?
Secretary of DEfenseWould you please also give me some examples when it is the opposite of offense?
Secretary of deFENse
a DEfense network
a deFENse network
By the way, what is a trochee?
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As hard as I try, I cannot settle on which way I pronounce those. It seems to depend on the context (where other nearby stresses are) and on emphasis.
A trochee (borrowed from poetry) is a two-syllable unit bearing the stress on the first syllable. Cf. iamb.
A trochee (borrowed from poetry) is a two-syllable unit bearing the stress on the first syllable. Cf. iamb.
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