Stress

Lesson 2

Even though Numo is written without diacritics, for this lesson, we'll use accent marks (á, à) to show stressed syllables and breves (ĭ) to show semivowels.

In linguistics, stress is the phenomenon where one syllable in a word is emphasized compared to others, whether in length, volume, pitch, or a combination of these. Compare the English word "permit" as a noun and a verb: "I have a PER-mit" vs. "I per-MIT you." We say the capitalized syllables are "stressed" and can mark that by putting an accent mark on the vowel. Longer words may have a secondary stress that is weaker than the primary stress. Even though stress is not important in Numo, it's impossible to read without stressing SOME syllables, so rules are needed to govern where the stress falls.

In Numo, the rule is: if the word is three syllables or less, the stress (á) is on the first syllable. If it's four syllables or more, the stress is on the second-to-last syllable, and secondary stress (à) falls on the first syllable. (Think of the English word "Ìnternátional") If the word starts with estr- or the prefix be-, stress goes on the syllable after.

• 2 Syllables: Álo "Hello"

• 3 Syllables: Ábrigan "Thank you"

• 4 Syllables: Àbrigánes "Thank"

• 5 Syllables: Àbriganéste "Thanked"

• Starts with estr: Estráĭp "Stripe"

• Starts with be: Begúdes "Improve"

Stress can be hard to learn if you're not familiar with it, but it can be easily picked up by hearing the language spoken aloud and using it yourself. Since the pattern is consistent, how you stress a word is not likely to impact how well you're understood, and you probably read most words correctly by instinct.

One important thing to note is that semivowels never add a new syllable, but add a J or W sound to the syllable they touch. Two letters can become semivowels, I and U, making a J and a W sound respectively, and there are two places where it happens:

1. Placed after a consonant and before a vowel. You're likely familiar with this through Spanish words like "Puerta", where the U makes a W sound. Here are some examples in Numo: 

   • Dŭo "Two"

   • Pĭat "Five"

2. As part of a diphthong, or sequence of vowels. Numo has three possible diphthongs, all of which end with a semivowel. They are ai like in "die", au like in "now", and oi like in "boy". Here are some examples of each in Numo:

   • Naĭ "Not"

   • Waŭ "Who"

   • Joĭ "Happy"

Of course, if you pronounce the semivowels as unstressed vowels you will probably still be understood, however they can never be pronounced as stressed vowels. Semivowels are very common, so pronouncing them will quickly become natural.

Practice 2

Place stress and semivowel markings on these sentences:

1. Mir arbaites in dukan. "The woman works in a store."

2. Rojal nes wodies rojalstan pun. "A king must lead his kingdom."

Vocabulary 2

Alo - Hello

Abrigan - Thank you

Estraip - Stripe

Dukan - Store

Rojal - King/Queen

Rojalstan - Kingdom

Duo - Two

Piat - Five

Abriganes - Thank

Arbaites - Work

Wodies - Lead

Nes - Need

Joi - Happy

Wau - Who

In - In

Pun - His