The Neutral Vowel and Stress in English

The neutral vowel, also called the 'shwa', arises in words where no stress on the vowel is present.  Let me explain.

There are three types of stress in English words:

• Full stress occurs, where the voice gives weight to the entire vowel sound so that it is audible and dominant  e.g. wave; view; sat; sift; perch, also implicit, important and effective
• Half stress occurs, where the voice gives partial weight to the vowel sound so that it is audible but not dominant in the word.  Half stress occurs in words of two or more syllables   e.g. implicit; important; effective
• No stress occurs, when the voice glides over the actual vowel sound and reduces or neutralises it.  No stress occurs in words of two and more syllables such as about, feather, measure and also in implicit, important, effective

Listen to this as an example of how to manage the stress in these words.

For more information about when, where and how to use stress in English, contact me via the Voice & Word website