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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation

On proper accentuation and articulation of English words

A legal researcher, whose children I used to teach English, once told me that the Webster Dictionary or any other dictionary should not rule out the pronunciation of English words. "For example, the word address should be pronounced AD-dress (the first syllable stressed), not ad-DRESS (the second syllable stressed) by Filipinos like us," he explained. "No, sir," I interrupted. "The word is really pronounced ad-DRESS." He simply smiled, saying, "I won't argue with you about it."

Well, the dictionary MUST really be the most relible thing to be consulted about the proper accentuation and articulation of English words. This is my firm belief. Am I right?
  

Top answer

Depends on which dictionary you refer to. I prefer old Merriam Webster dictionary for American English. As a noun, address is pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable, secondary on the second syllable.

— Raindoctor

  • Depends on which dictionary you refer to.
  • I prefer old Merriam Webster dictionary for American English.
  • As a noun, address is pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable, secondary on the second syllable.
  • show=1&t=1304091028 MW dictionary confirms what your legal research said.
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2 Answers
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Depends on which dictionary you refer to. I prefer old Merriam Webster dictionary for American English. As a noun, address is pronounced with primary stress on the first syllable, secondary on the second syllable.

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Rommel N. AngaraWell, the dictionary MUST really be the most reliable thing to be consulted about the proper accentuation and articulation of English words. This is my firm belief. Am I right?
Yes, but what if different dictionaries disagree? My dictionary says ad-DRESS is proper for all usages, but that AD-dress is an alt
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