English stress and rising intonation as in yes/no question

Question

First, thank you for your contribution in discussing the series of stress-related problems.
We know that the stress of each of the following words can fall on either the first syllable or the second syllable, depending upon what part of speech they are used in an utterance.
1. 'permit vs. per'mit
2. 'torment vs. tor'ment
3. 'export vs ex'port(What else, could you add to the list please?)
It's pretty easy to tell their differences when they are uttered in a neutral intonation as in a declarative.
But are there any differences between each pair if they are uttered in a rising tone as in a yes/no question?
Thanks.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]First, thank you for your contribution in discussing the series of stress-related problems. We know that the stress of each ... 'permit vs. per'mit 2. 'torment vs. tor'ment 3. 'export vs ex'port (What else, could you add to the list please?)[/nq]
Someone has a list... Here, use the Google Groups advanced search to find this thread, and then scroll down a few posts.

Newsgroups: alt.usage.english

Date: 09 Jan 2004 22:51:22 GMT
Subject: Noun on first syllable; verb on second
[nq:1]It's pretty easy to tell their differences when they are uttered in a neutral intonation as in a declarative. But are there any differences between each pair if they are uttered in a rising tone as in a yes/no question?[/nq]
Do you mean like this:
A: You need a permit to park here.
B: Permit?
A: I can't permit you to do that.
B: Permit?
B echoes A. The intonation changes to a rising pattern (questioning tone), but the stressed syllable is the same.

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]We know that the stress of each of the following words can fall on either the first syllable or the ... 'permit vs. per'mit 2. 'torment vs. tor'ment 3. 'export vs ex'port (What else, could you add to the list please?)[/nq]
Cognate but not quite the same is the US
oral stress on the first syllable of offence and
defence, which is simply not found in British
English. The American usage seems to have
begun in radio reports of football games (or perhaps other games where the rules require that one team
be in offence and the other in defence) in order to speak clearly although quickly and perhaps excitedly. Perhaps as a direct result, at least some Americans now stress the first syllable whenever saying
offence or defence.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

Thanks a lot! You gave very good examples. What do you mean by "the stressed syllable is the same"?
I am not a native speaker of English. Let me paraphrase my question.
1. - A: You need a permit to park here.- B: Permit? 2. - A: I can't permit you to do that.- B: Permit? Now do the (nominal permit) and (verb permit) sound different to native speakers of English when they are uttered in a rising intonation like those given in the examples above?

Usenet · Answer

(on the distinction between 'permit' as verb and 'permit' as noun)
[nq:1]like this:[/nq]
[nq:2]A: You need a permit to park here. B: Permit? ... pattern (questioning tone), but the stressed syllable is the same.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks a lot! You gave very good examples. What do you mean by "the stressed syllable is the same"? I ... to native speakers of English when they are uttered in a rising intonation like those given in the examples above?[/nq]
Yes. The rising pattern is similar, but the emphasis is different. Perhaps in your native language stress and pitch are closely related? That's not so in English, whether British or American, and the low pitch for the indignant exclamation can be used for a stressed syllable (noun PERmit) or unstressed (verb perMIT).
Alan Jones

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]what[/nq]
I'm on my way to catch a plane, so I only have time for one try at this. Maybe some others on the group here will do better at explaining it. We have a symbolic way to represent English pronunciation (ASCII IPA), but I don't know if there's a way to represent rising and falling tones except maybe the 3 and 5 business I've seen for discussing Chinese, and I don't know that system.
Anyway, what I mean is when "permit" is a noun, the first syllable is stressed or accented, whether in a statement or a question. When "permit" is a verb, the second syllable is stressed, whether in a statement or a question.
The stress or accent doesn't change. The tones do.
[nq:1]I am not a native speaker of English. Let me paraphrase my question. 1. - A: You need a permit ... to native speakers of English when they are uttered in a rising intonation like those given in the examples above?[/nq]
Saying them again this morning, I realize there are two ways to say the questioning form of the nominal "permit". One is a mild, echoing, did-I-understand-you-correctly one, and that has a rising tone the syllable "mit" is said in a slightly higher (musical) tone than was "per". That's the usual questioning rise.
But the other way (still as a noun) expresses a stronger emotion: indignation, outrage, I-can't-believe-you-said-that. "Permit?! I never heard of permits here! This is crazy!" Then the "mit" can be said in a much lower (musical) tone than the "per." The big interval conveys the disbelief. If I had a keyboard in front of me, I could almost name the notes you should use to "sing" that outraged "PER-mit?!"

Moving on to the question #2, that also can be done as a mild question (meaning "Did you say "permit" or did you say something else?" ) or as a strong indication of outrage. "Per-MIT? Who do you think you are? Who ever gave you authority to..." etc. What does the tone do?... The mild 2B rises slightly, the outraged 2B rises a bit more, and I feel as if maybe the stress is more intense, but I really don't have time to go further.
I suspect some people who teach English as a foreign language have a way of describing tone/pitch as well as accent/stress. Or maybe somene could record a few sentences for you to listen to.

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]First, thank you for your contribution in discussing the series of stress-related problems. We know that the stress of each ... there any differences between each pair if they are uttered in a rising tone as in a yes/no question? Thanks.[/nq]
This doesn't relate to rising tones, but to different stresses on syllables.

Here in Oz, a basketball coach (and coaches of other sports, to a lesser extent), will talk about dee'fence, but the guy / gal in charge of the Army wouldn't be anything other than a De'fence Minister.

Stupot

English stress and rising intonation as in yes/no question

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions