Stress and Rhythm in Spoken English
Stress and rhythm are essential features of natural English speech. English is a stress-timed language, meaning stressed syllables occur at regular intervals. This pattern may feel unfamiliar to many learners.
Content words such as nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs usually receive stress. Function words like articles and prepositions are often reduced. Understanding this pattern improves listening comprehension and speaking clarity.
Shadowing is an effective technique for practicing stress and rhythm. Learners listen to native speech and repeat it while copying timing and emphasis.
Mastering stress and rhythm makes spoken English sound smoother, more natural, and easier to understand.