9. Stressed Syllables - Welsh Pronunciation (Series 1)

Learn to pronounce Welsh clearly and understandably whether you're in north or south Wales.
Stressed Syllables (Series 1 | Video 9)
Part of the Welsh Pronunciation Series.

[@andydavidson2793]

Why dislike this??

[@tompeeters7415]

Why does the female speaker first explain that the stress is on the penultimate syllable, and then goes on to pronounce the two syllable words with stress on the last syllable?

[@welshplus]

She doesn't. Her loudest i.e. stressed syllable is the penultimate. What you may be hearing is that the final syllable is a higher pitch than the penult? In English (and other languages), a stressed syllable is both louder and higher than other syllables, but here in Welsh the stressed syllable is louder but the final syllable is higher. So sometimes non-Welsh speakers hear the final syllable as higher and so think that's where they hear the stress, but if you listen closely, that's not the case. It takes a bit of practice if you're not used to Welsh or Welsh English accents.

[@magicfriday9390]

@@welshplus So is the pitch always higher on the last syllable of a word?

[@welshplus]

@@magicfriday9390 There are a variety of stress patterns in Welsh just like in other languages, but yes, in general the volume is louder on the penultimate syllable (the stressed one) but the pitch is higher on the final syllable.

[@magicfriday9390]

@@welshplus Interesting! Pitch and stress sound identical to me. I haven't come across this feature in languages so far, and I know quote a lot languages. Anyway thanks for your reply! I like Wales and Welsh!

[@welshplus]

@@magicfriday9390 Croeso / You're welcome. Languages are so interesting. They never cease to amaze me!