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Verb/noun pronunciation
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:39 pm
by df09
We were reviewing pronunciation in my class the other day and an interesting question popped up. The word 'project' - as a noun, the emphasis is on the first part of the word and as a verb, the emphasis is on the second part. However, there is no difference in pronunciation for the word 'practice,' whether it is a noun or a verb. Why is this? Thanks!
Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:42 pm
by fluffyhamster
Hi df09!
Well, there is a spelling difference between the verb 'practise' and the then differentiated noun (don't ask, I am in Chinese visual "ideogram" mode!) 'practice' in British English:
http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chamber ... title=21st
But as to why there is no difference in stress, I can't really give you an answer - it just seems a fact of the lexicon, and you'd need to investigate just how many bi- or multisyllabic verbs versus nouns in fact exhibit differing stress patterns before viewing 'practice' (AmE single spelling) as a possible (and possibly niggling) exception to some emerging putative rule in your classroom.
