Which language type is characterized by stressed syllables occurring at roughly regular intervals, while unstressed syllables are shortened to fit the rhythm?

Which language type is characterized by stressed syllables occurring at roughly regular intervals, while unstressed syllables are shortened to fit the rhythm?

• A. Stress-timed language
• B. Syllable-timed language
• C. Tonal language
• D. Isolating language

Answer: (A)

Rhythm in languages is determined by how syllables are timed and stressed. In a stress-timed language, the stressed syllables occur at roughly regular intervals, and the unstressed syllables between them are shortened or compressed to keep that overall beat. This makes the rhythm feel like a recurring pulse, with variable-length syllables but a predictable spacing of stressed beats. English, German, and Dutch are classic examples. Syllable-timed languages, by contrast, feel more even because each syllable tends to be about the same length, so the rhythm isn’t driven by a regular beat of stressed syllables. Tonal languages focus on pitch differences to distinguish meaning, not on the regularity of stress timing. Isolating languages describe a morphological pattern—little affixation and mainly single morpheme words—not a rhythm trait. So the described pattern matches stress-timed languages.

Rhythm in languages is determined by how syllables are timed and stressed. In a stress-timed language, the stressed syllables occur at roughly regular intervals, and the unstressed syllables between them are shortened or compressed to keep that overall beat. This makes the rhythm feel like a recurring pulse, with variable-length syllables but a predictable spacing of stressed beats. English, German, and Dutch are classic examples.

Syllable-timed languages, by contrast, feel more even because each syllable tends to be about the same length, so the rhythm isn’t driven by a regular beat of stressed syllables. Tonal languages focus on pitch differences to distinguish meaning, not on the regularity of stress timing. Isolating languages describe a morphological pattern—little affixation and mainly single morpheme words—not a rhythm trait. So the described pattern matches stress-timed languages.