Recent from talks
Initial-stress-derived noun
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Initial-stress-derived noun
Initial-stress derivation is a phonological process in English that moves stress to the first syllable of verbs when they are used as nouns or adjectives. (This is an example of a suprafix.) This process can be found in the case of several dozen verb-noun and verb-adjective pairs and is gradually becoming more standardized in some English dialects, but it is not present in all. The list of affected words differs from area to area, and often depends on whether a word is used metaphorically or not. At least 170 verb-noun or verb-adjective pairs exist. Some examples are:
Since Early Modern English,[failed verification] polysyllabic nouns in English have had a tendency for the final syllable to be unstressed, but that has not been the case for verbs. Thus, the stress difference between nouns and verbs in English is a general rule and applies not only to otherwise-identical noun-verb pairs. The frequency of such pairs in English is a result of the productivity of conversion of parts of speech.
When "re-" is prefixed to a monosyllabic word, and the word gains currency both as a noun and as a verb, it usually fits into that pattern, but as the following list makes clear, most words fitting the pattern do not match that description.
Many of these have first syllables that evolved from Latin prepositions, but again, that does not account for all of them. See also list of Latin words with English derivatives.
When the stress is moved, the pronunciation of words often changes in other ways as well, especially for vowels, most commonly by the reduction of a vowel sound when it becomes unstressed to a schwa.
absent · abstract · accent · addict · address (North America only) · affect · affix · alloy · ally · annex · assay · attribute · augment · belay · bisect · bombard · combat · combine · commune · compact · complex · composite · compost (both initial-stressed in North America) · compound · compress · concert · conduct · confect · confine(s) · conflict · conscript · conserve · consist · console · consort · construct · consult · content · contest · contract · contrast · converse · convert · convict · decrease · default · defect · detail (British Isles only) · dictate · digest · discard · discharge · disconnect · discount · discourse · dismount · envelope · escort · essay · estimate (British Isles only) · excise · exploit · export · extract · ferment · finance · foretaste · fragment · frequent · gallant · impact · implant · impound · import · impress · imprint · incense · incline · increase · indent · inlay · insert · insult · intercept · interchange · intercross · interdict · interlink · interlock · intern · interplay · interspace · interweave · intrigue · invert · invite · involute · mandate (both initial-stressed in North America) · mismatch (both initial-stressed in North America) · misprint (both initial-stressed in North America) · object · offset · overcount · overlap · overlay · overlook · override · overrun · perfect · perfume (often, neither initial-stressed in North America) · permit · pervert · prefix (variable) · present · proceed(s) · process · produce · progress · project · protest (variable) · purport · rebel · recall · recap · recess · recoil · record · recount · redirect · redo · redress · refill · refresh · refund · refuse · regress · rehash · reject · relapse · relay · remake · repeat · repose · repost · reprint · research (variable) · reset · retake · retard · retract · retread · rewrite · segment · subject · survey · suspect · torment (varies) · transform · transplant · transect · transport · transpose · traverse · undercount · upgrade · uplift · upset
Some two-word phrases follow this pattern. Nouns derived from phrasal verbs like the following are written solid or hyphenated: hand out, drop out, hand over, crack down, follow through, come back.
If the derived noun is widely used (for example "the backup"), its spelling may cause widespread modified spelling of the verb (*to backup instead of to back up). However, the past tense of such verbs is very rarely written as *backedup or *backupped, but almost always as backed up.
Hub AI
Initial-stress-derived noun AI simulator
(@Initial-stress-derived noun_simulator)
Initial-stress-derived noun
Initial-stress derivation is a phonological process in English that moves stress to the first syllable of verbs when they are used as nouns or adjectives. (This is an example of a suprafix.) This process can be found in the case of several dozen verb-noun and verb-adjective pairs and is gradually becoming more standardized in some English dialects, but it is not present in all. The list of affected words differs from area to area, and often depends on whether a word is used metaphorically or not. At least 170 verb-noun or verb-adjective pairs exist. Some examples are:
Since Early Modern English,[failed verification] polysyllabic nouns in English have had a tendency for the final syllable to be unstressed, but that has not been the case for verbs. Thus, the stress difference between nouns and verbs in English is a general rule and applies not only to otherwise-identical noun-verb pairs. The frequency of such pairs in English is a result of the productivity of conversion of parts of speech.
When "re-" is prefixed to a monosyllabic word, and the word gains currency both as a noun and as a verb, it usually fits into that pattern, but as the following list makes clear, most words fitting the pattern do not match that description.
Many of these have first syllables that evolved from Latin prepositions, but again, that does not account for all of them. See also list of Latin words with English derivatives.
When the stress is moved, the pronunciation of words often changes in other ways as well, especially for vowels, most commonly by the reduction of a vowel sound when it becomes unstressed to a schwa.
absent · abstract · accent · addict · address (North America only) · affect · affix · alloy · ally · annex · assay · attribute · augment · belay · bisect · bombard · combat · combine · commune · compact · complex · composite · compost (both initial-stressed in North America) · compound · compress · concert · conduct · confect · confine(s) · conflict · conscript · conserve · consist · console · consort · construct · consult · content · contest · contract · contrast · converse · convert · convict · decrease · default · defect · detail (British Isles only) · dictate · digest · discard · discharge · disconnect · discount · discourse · dismount · envelope · escort · essay · estimate (British Isles only) · excise · exploit · export · extract · ferment · finance · foretaste · fragment · frequent · gallant · impact · implant · impound · import · impress · imprint · incense · incline · increase · indent · inlay · insert · insult · intercept · interchange · intercross · interdict · interlink · interlock · intern · interplay · interspace · interweave · intrigue · invert · invite · involute · mandate (both initial-stressed in North America) · mismatch (both initial-stressed in North America) · misprint (both initial-stressed in North America) · object · offset · overcount · overlap · overlay · overlook · override · overrun · perfect · perfume (often, neither initial-stressed in North America) · permit · pervert · prefix (variable) · present · proceed(s) · process · produce · progress · project · protest (variable) · purport · rebel · recall · recap · recess · recoil · record · recount · redirect · redo · redress · refill · refresh · refund · refuse · regress · rehash · reject · relapse · relay · remake · repeat · repose · repost · reprint · research (variable) · reset · retake · retard · retract · retread · rewrite · segment · subject · survey · suspect · torment (varies) · transform · transplant · transect · transport · transpose · traverse · undercount · upgrade · uplift · upset
Some two-word phrases follow this pattern. Nouns derived from phrasal verbs like the following are written solid or hyphenated: hand out, drop out, hand over, crack down, follow through, come back.
If the derived noun is widely used (for example "the backup"), its spelling may cause widespread modified spelling of the verb (*to backup instead of to back up). However, the past tense of such verbs is very rarely written as *backedup or *backupped, but almost always as backed up.