The strong and weak syllables of English result in
a rhythm that is similar to the rhythm of music. The
strong (stressed) syllables are like the beat in
music. Strong syllables are long. Weak syllables are
usually short. Strong syllables usually have weak
ones around them, but if two strong ones occur
together, they are said just as slowly as if they
did have weak ones around them.
Look at the following examples:
(a dot = short, a dash = long)
· —
· —
· —
result
detect
confuse
— ·
— ·
— ·
final
science
table
· — ·
· — ·
· — ·
computer
in Sydney
distribute
— · ·
— · ·
— · ·
absolute
tentative
chemistry
· — · ·
· — · ·
· — · ·
infanticide
it's terrible
impossible
— · · —
— · —
— —
Give me a break!
Run along!
Mind out
— —
— —
Get lost!
Don't know!
Marking rhythm in sentences
Find out the strong and weak beats in the
following limerick. Then try to work out the
rhythm (which is characteristic of a
limerick) and practise reading it.
There was a young student called Billy
Who really was terribly silly
He ate a whole pig
And became far too big
And that was the end of poor Billy
Center for Language Education
Marking rhythm in sentences