When we stress a syllable or word, it is emphasized. This can impact the meaning and pronunciation of words. The schwa sound happens in the syllable that we are not fully pronouncing.

I actually pronounce wagon like wagin, not wagun. I would also argue it sometimes sounds like /i/ depending on how you pronounce words. It makes the / uh / sound, but lazier and not as pronounced. Now, I see that explicitly teaching the concept of stressed and unstressed syllables to my students aids in their decoding, encoding, and comprehension.Ī stressed syllable is the part of the word that receives a stronger syllable mark. This is noted by the articulation of the word with the mouth open wider, the voice being louder, and the sound being held longer. The schwa is a sound that is represented by all of the vowels. Here are some easy-to-understand infographics to explain some of the common terms and phrases used in the teaching of Phonics. I honestly didn't know that the English language is a stressed-time language or what that meant for instruction. What is Phonics Phonics is a method translating the 44+ sounds (phonemes) of spoken English to individual or groups of written letters (graphemes). Stressed And Unstressed Syllablesīefore my therapist training, I had never thought about the impact of stressed and unstressed syllables on spelling, pronunciation, syntax, and meaning. The impact of the stressed and unstressed syllables determines spoken sounds, especially vowels. The English language is stress-timed, and when spoken, there is a natural rhythm and fluidity that aids in comprehension, pronunciation, syntax, and expression. You may be asking, what does this have to do with reading instruction? I am heading off to the beach this week and looking forward to a 'less stressed' and relaxing time.

What is a schwa