WORD STRESS AND RHYTHM

All the above mentioned words with two equally strong stresses are subjected to the influence of English rhythm in connected speech. Thus in a double-stressed word the first element is weakened if it is preceded by another stressed syllable or the second stress is likewise lost if it is followed by a stressed syllable, eg: * How many students are these in your group? * →Thirˎteen. →Find ꞌroom thirˎteen. I have ↓looked ꞌthrough ꞌthirteen ˎbooks today.