Rules
To determine the position of the stress of Latin terms:
- Vowels followed by two consonants are generally stressed. Thus Po-ten-tíl-la, as the I is followed by a double L.
- Diphthongs are to be stressed, too. Thus Al-tháe-a, as AE is a diphthong.
A word is normally stressed on the first syllable, unless there is a reason to put the stress somewhere else.
The "reason" is either suffixes (like -ity and -ion) or prefixes (like con-, dis-, ex- and in-).
If the suffix (ending) starts with the letters i or u, this will affect the position of stress in a word. Sample suffixes: -ion, -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior, -ic, -ity, etc. The stress comes on the syllable before the suffix. Examples: Atlantic, comic, sufficient, explanation, residual. There are only a very few exceptions to this rule.
Other suffixes do not affect the stress of a word. Sample suffixes: -al, -ous, -ly, -er, -ed, -ist, -ing, -ment Examples: permanent, permanently, develop, development
► Prefixes are not normally stressed in two-syllable words, except in some nouns or adjectives. Examples: To ex'pand, to de'fend; but an 'expert, a report. Disyllabic nouns starting with a prefix need to be learned individually.
► Prefixes are usually stressed in three-syllable nouns and adjectives, but not always stressed in verbs. Examples: 'Continent, 'incident, 'exercise; to con'sider, to en'visage but to 'indicate (All three-syllable verbs ending in -ate are stressed on the first syllable).
Rule 3 takes priority over all others, notably when a "rule 3 ending" is followed by a "rule 4 ending". Examples: perpetually, deliciously, conditional, conditioner, illusionist.
Read more about this topic: Syllable Stress Of Botanical Latin
Famous quotes containing the word rules:
“This was Pharaoh, direct descendent of our deity Amon, god of the sun, who rules the heavens as Pharaoh rules the earth. Again, he brought treasure, gold, and precious jewels taken from our enemies. For to Pharaoh riches were power and power was to be desired. And also again he brought many captives. For is it not by slaves that one becomes even richer and then has even more power?”
—William Faulkner (1897–1962)
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—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)