3.2
scan 2-syl words
Task: identify and name syllable patterns
Identify and label each two-syllable word as an iamb or trochee (‘I’ or ‘T’).
All are either iambic or trochaic; no spondees.
The mix is roughly 50/50.
Complete the first column first. Later columns are if you need another try.
Column 1
abduct
alto
actor
artist
alter
abide
above
bolder
before
bundle
banter
beret
cannot
cliché
crispy
concern
counter
color
contain
cuddle
create
debate
doubter
defy
dinner
deport
dabble
devout
delta
Column 2
digest
discern
dusty
disclose
dolly
dispute
dour
duet
eclair
enter
elder
earnest
easy
edict
effect
eject
enlist
echo
effort
eclipse
enchain
enough
enrage
enrich
enslave
erode
escape
exert
exist
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
Column 3
expert
expire
foster
fiery
founder
fashion
fighter
fancy
focus
forbid
garage
gallon
gorgeous
galling
guzzle
gory
gazelle
gusty
guitar
hurtful
hungry
hugger
hardy
harass
happy
harpoon
hustle
horrid
hashish
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
Here’s how:
2-syllable words in English are locked in to their stress pattern. It can’t change. These patterns have names
and symbols. You are responsible for them. There are three patterns:
Unstress/Stress
Stress/unstress
Stress/Stress
͜
/
/ ͜
/ /
iamb (iambic)
EYE-am
trochee (trochaic) TRO-key
spondee (spondaic) SPON-dee
Ironic? Perhaps. The names of the stress patterns are all trochees.
about 9% of 2-syllable words
about 90% of 2-syllable words
about 1% of 2-syllable words
English tends to spondaic words and iambic
Most spondees are compounds of two one-syllable words, like football or downside.
Spondees are rare. Don’t talk yourself into hearing them when they aren’t there.
These two-syllable patterns count from the start of a line. They do not automatically line up with words.
Repeat: an iamb may or may not be a word.