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The Accent in turkish words
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| 1. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 02:26 pm |
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I hope there is someone who can help with a few certain rules about putting stress in turkish words....I read that the major rule is to put the stress on the last syllable, but i found out that this is not exactly so....
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| 2. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 02:56 pm |
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According to the chapter on phonology in "Turkish Grammar", G.Lewis.
"Wih the exceptions quoted below, Turkish words are oxytone, i.e. accented on the last syllable; when the oxytone word is extended by suffixes the accent is on the last syllable of the word thus formed...."
Exceptions:
"Place names are not oxytone. Most are accented on their first syllable....."
"Polysyllabic place names of non-Turkish origin generally retain their original accentuation....."
"Foriegn nouns usually retain their original accentuation....."
"A number of nouns denoting relatives and living creatures."
"Adverbs are usually accented on the first syllable.....this applies also to adverbs fromed from nouns with the addition of a case-suffix."
"In compound words, the accent usually falls on the end of the first element....."
"Diminutives in -cik are accentuated on the first syllable."
"Polysyllabic suffixes are accentuated on the first syllable (of the suffix)."
"So too are Interjections and vocatives."
Ch.1 s38-39
Hope that helps 
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| 3. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 02:59 pm |
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I'd like to add something to that:
In question sentences constructed with "mi(ı/u/ü)", the stress is on the syllable before "mi".
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| 4. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 03:04 pm |
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My pronounciation is not so good compared to my level at writing and reading in English. I think the reason is the stress on words. I just can't stress the words as a native English would do.
Even the simplest word like hello sounds still too complicated to me even tought I'm living in the UK for a year and a half now.
I think this is because we don't stress words as much as the English speakers do. The stress in Turkish words is much less strong than in English words. It would be alright if you don't do any stres at all. On the other hand there is the rytm of pronounciation which is a little different I think. It is like sound waves going up and down. Ecpecially we see the rytm with the question suffix.
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| 5. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 03:05 pm |
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Quoting Elisa: In question sentences constructed with "mi(ı/u/ü)", the stress is on the syllable before "mi". |
Yes - good point!
Of course "mi" is strange anyway as it is treated as a suffix for vowel harmony but has a space seperating it from the word to which it is appended. The word preceding "mi" remains oxytone but perhaps with a stronger accent as "mi" and any suffix it takes is monotone.
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| 6. |
19 Jan 2006 Thu 03:11 pm |
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Quoting erdinc: I think this is because we don't stress words as much as the English speakers do. The stress in Turkish words is much less strong than in English words. It would be alright if you don't do any stres at all. On the other hand there is the rytm of pronounciation which is a little different I think. It is like sound waves going up and down. Ecpecially we see the rytm with the question suffix. |
I think you are very right Erdinç!
I listen to Türkçe radio alot during the day - I don't understand it but I hope it gives me a feel for how the language should sound......I am listening to it at the moment
What I find is that I am listening for accents within words which is what I am used to listening for in my native English - and I find they are not there!!! I didn't realise just how tonal English is until I started listening to spoken Türkçe!
Erdinç - it is "rhythm" not "rytm"
See: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=rhythm
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| 7. |
20 Jan 2006 Fri 02:38 am |
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I believe there is also a stress on the syllable before the negative suffix -me
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| 8. |
20 Jan 2006 Fri 04:02 pm |
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Quoting Joey: I believe there is also a stress on the syllable before the negative suffix -me |
I wouldn't say you are wrong - but I cannot find any reference to this accent anywhere else :-S
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| 9. |
21 Jan 2006 Sat 02:21 am |
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Quoting bod: Quoting Joey: I believe there is also a stress on the syllable before the negative suffix -me |
I wouldn't say you are wrong - but I cannot find any reference to this accent anywhere else :-S |
Bod check page 19 Hugos Turkish in three months.
Page 37 Teach Yourself Turkish by Geoffrey Lewis and page 55 Elementary Turkish by Lewis Thomas also most importantly you should look at page 64 of teach Yourself Turkish by Asuman and David Pollard in which they say that the stress on the previous syllable is just as important as adding the negative ending.
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| 10. |
22 Jan 2006 Sun 11:12 am |
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thank you all for your help I appreciate it
I guess i have to buy a more comprehensive book about this issue or simply listen more turkish radio.....
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