Peculiarities of Word Stress in English and Macedonian Language

The aim of this study is to define stress and compare the characteristics of stress patterns in English and Macedonian. Stress is defined as the emphasis or intensity placed on a speech sound, syllable, or word, resulting in increased loudness or prominence. The Macedonian language exhibits simpler and more regular stress patterns compared to English. In two-syllable Macedonian words, the stress typically falls on the second syllable. For words with three or more syllables, the stress is placed on the third syllable from the end. Additionally, Macedonian includes a form of compound words known as “акцентски целости”, where two or more words are pronounced with a single, unified stress pattern. In these cases, the usual rule applies - the stress remains on the third syllable from the end. In contrast, English stress patterns are more complex and unpredictable, with numerous exceptions influenced by etymology, word class, and morphological structure. This comparative analysis concludes that English has more challenging stress patterns and irregularities than Macedonian.
Keywords: Stress patterns, Phonology, comparison, syllable, English, Macedonian.