Difference between revisions of "Torment"
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PeterWilson (Talk | contribs) (New page: '''Torment''' can be either a noun or a verb. The pronunciation is different: the two words have different stresses. *The verb 'to '''torment'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> is stressed ...) |
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'''Torment''' can be either a [[noun]] or a [[verb]]. The pronunciation is different: the two words have different stresses. | '''Torment''' can be either a [[noun]] or a [[verb]]. The pronunciation is different: the two words have different stresses. | ||
| − | *The [[verb]] 'to '''torment'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> is stressed on the second syllable, ' | + | *The [[verb]] 'to '''torment'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> is stressed on the second syllable, 'tor-MENT' {{IPA|tɔː<sup>r</sup> ˈmɛnt}}. |
| − | *The noun 'a '''torment'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> is stressed on the first syllable, 'TOR-ment' {{IPA| | + | *The noun 'a '''torment'''<nowiki>'</nowiki> is stressed on the first syllable, 'TOR-ment' {{IPA|ˈtɔː<sup>r</sup> mɛnt}}. |
{{sis}} | {{sis}} | ||
Revision as of 23:47, 5 August 2015
Torment can be either a noun or a verb. The pronunciation is different: the two words have different stresses.
- The verb 'to torment' is stressed on the second syllable, 'tor-MENT' IPA: /tɔːr ˈmɛnt/.
- The noun 'a torment' is stressed on the first syllable, 'TOR-ment' IPA: /ˈtɔːr mɛnt/.
Note
- This pattern of shifting stress in words that look identical but belong to two separate word classes is quite common in English.
- Quirk (1985) (Appendix I.56 B) describes the most common: "When verbs of two syllables are converted into nouns, the stress is sometimes shifted from the second to the first syllable. The first syllable, typically a Latin prefix, often has a reduced vowel /ə/ in the verb but a full vowel in the noun: He was con-VICT-ed (IPA: /kən ˈvɪkt ɪd/) of theft, and so became a CON vict (IPA: /ˈkɒn vɪkt/)" [AWE's rendition of IPA].
- There follows a list of some 57 "words having end-stress as verbs but initial stress as nouns in Br[itish] E[nglish]." Note that "in Am[erican] E[nglish], many have initial stress as verbs also". Quirk's list is the foundation of AWE's category:shift of stress. Additions have been made from, amongst others, Fowler, 1926-1996.
- Quirk (1985) (Appendix I.56 B) describes the most common: "When verbs of two syllables are converted into nouns, the stress is sometimes shifted from the second to the first syllable. The first syllable, typically a Latin prefix, often has a reduced vowel /ə/ in the verb but a full vowel in the noun: He was con-VICT-ed (IPA: /kən ˈvɪkt ɪd/) of theft, and so became a CON vict (IPA: /ˈkɒn vɪkt/)" [AWE's rendition of IPA].
- This pattern of shifting stress in words that look identical but belong to two separate word classes is quite common in English.
