Stress, Rhythm, and Intonation in Spoken English

Abstract

This article explores the role of stress, rhythm, and intonation as key prosodic features of spoken English. These suprasegmental elements contribute significantly to meaning formation, speech intelligibility, and effective oral communication. The study examines word stress, sentence stress, rhythmic patterns, and intonation contours in English, highlighting their interaction and communicative functions. Special attention is given to the difficulties faced by learners of English as a foreign language in mastering these features. The article also discusses pedagogical implications and emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction in prosody for improving learners’ speaking and listening skills.