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    Generalizations on the placement of primary stress in Dutch
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    The following basic generalizations are accepted by the majority of scholars (for comprehensive overviews, see Kager 1989 and Booij 1995). Note that none of these generalizations are exceptionless; they rather present (more or less strong) tendencies.

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    Based on the power of these generalizations, (Kager 1989:225-240) divides his set into major and minor generalizations; they are given below. We divide the power of the generalizations into three categories:

    Table 1
    Category Definition
    Strong No or few counter-examples
    Solid Some counter-examples
    Weak Various counter-examples

    We provide a table illustrating each generalization. The four last syllables of a word are indicated and abbreviated as follows: PAPU (preantepenultimate), APU (antepenultimate), PU (penultimate), U (ultimate). Preferred patterns are marked green; disallowed patterns are marked red; minority patterns are marked yellow. Next to the general overview, each of the generalizations is discussed in more detail in a separate entry.

    • Major generalizations along the lines of Kager (1989)

    Three-Syllable-Window: Primary stress does not deviate more than three syllables from the right edge of the word. Category: Strong

    Table 2
    PAPU APU PU U Examples
    √ σ σ σ ˈσ economie [e.ko.no.'mi] economy

    fonologie [fo.no.lo.ˈɣi] phonology
    √ σ σ ˈσ σ macaroni [ma.ka.'ro.ni] macaroni

    avocado [a.vo.'ka.do] avocado
    √ σ ˈσ σ σ magnolia [max.'no.li.ja] magnolia

    tarantula [ta.ˈrɑn.ty.la] tarantula
    * ˈσ σ σ σ economie [*'e.ko.no.mi]

    macaroni [*'ma.ka.ro.ni]

    tarantula [*ˈta.rɑn.ty.la]

    Schwa in stress assignment: schwa is never stressed; primary stress occurs directly before a syllable containg schwa. Category: Strong

    Table 3
    APU PU U Examples
    √ σ ˈσ ə palissade [pa.li.ˈsa.də] palisade

    mirakel [mi.ˈra.kəl] miracle
    * ˈσ σ ə palissade [*pa.ˈli.sa.də]

    mirakel [*ˈmi.ra.kəl]
    * σ σ ˈə palissade [*pa.li.sa.ˈdə]

    mirakel [*mi.ra.ˈkəl]

    Closed Penult Restriction: Primary stress cannot be on the antepenult if the penult is closed and contains a full vowel (B=B-class vowel, C=coda consonant). Category: Strong

    Table 4
    APU PU U Examples
    √ σ ˈBC σ agenda [a.ˈɣɛn.da] agenda

    vakantie [va.ˈkɑn.tsi] holidays
    * ˈσ BC σ agenda [*ˈa.ɣɛn.da]

    vakantie [*ˈva.kɑn.tsi]

    • Minor generalizations along the lines of Kager (1989)

    Words with superheavy final syllables (SH) have final primary stress. Category: Strong for DC and AC, solid for BCC (A=A-class vowel, B=B-class vowel, D=diphthong, C=coda consonant).

    Table 5
    APU PU U Examples
    √ σ σ ˈSH avontuur [a.vɔn.ˈtyr] adventure

    serpentijn [sɛr.pɛn.ˈtɛin] serpentine

    document [do.ky.ˈmɛnt] document
    * σ ˈσ SH avontuur [*a.ˈvɔn.tyr]

    serpentijn [*sɛr.ˈpɛn.tɛin]

    document [*do.ˈky.mɛnt]
    * ˈσ σ SH avontuur [*ˈa.vɔn.tyr]

    serpentijn [*ˈsɛr.pɛn.tɛin]

    document [*ˈdo.ky.mɛnt]

    Words with final diphthongs (D) have final primary stress (see diphthong restriction). Category: Strong

    Table 6
    APU PU U Examples
    √ σ σ ˈD batterij [bɑ.tə.ˈrɛi] battery

    lakei [la.ˈkɛi] lackey
    * σ ˈσ D batterij [*bɑ.ˈtə.rɛi]

    lakei [*ˈla.kɛi]
    * ˈσ σ D batterij [*ˈbɑ.tə.rɛi]

    Words with final (closed) B-class vowel (BC) syllables have antepenultimate stress. Category: Weak. Penultimate primary stress is very rare. Several forms (mostly French loanwords) have final primary stress.

    Table 7
    APU PU U Examples
    √ ˈσ σ BC albatros [ˈɑl.ba.trɔs] albatross

    carnaval [ˈkɑr.na.vɑl] carnival
    * σ ˈσ BC albatros [*ɑl.ˈba.trɔs]

    carnaval [*kɑr.ˈna.vɑl]
    * σ σ ˈBC albatros [*ɑl.ba.ˈtrɔs]

    carnaval [*kɑr.na.ˈvɑl]

    But: apostrof [a.pos.ˈtrɔf] apostrophe

    carrousel [kɑ.ru.ˈsɛl] carousel

    Words with A-class vowels (A) in open final syllables have penultimate primary stress. Category: Solid for disyllabic forms, weak for trisyllabic forms.

    Table 8
    APU PU U Examples
    √ σ ˈσ A angora [aŋ.ˈɣo.ra] angora

    solo ['so.lo] solo
    * σ σ ˈA angora [*aŋ.ɣo.ˈra]

    solo [*so.'lo]

    But: orchidee [ɔr.xi.ˈde] orchid

    kopie [ko.'pi] copy
    * ˈσ σ A angora [*ˈaŋ.ɣo.ra]

    But:omega [ˈo.me.ɣa] omega

    broccoli [ˈbrɔ.ko.li] broccoli

    References:
    • Booij, Geert1995The phonology of DutchOxfordOxford University Press
    • Kager, René1989A Metrical Theory of Stress and Destressing in English and DutchDordrechtForis
    • Kager, René1989A Metrical Theory of Stress and Destressing in English and DutchDordrechtForis
    • Kager, René1989A Metrical Theory of Stress and Destressing in English and DutchDordrechtForis
    • Kager, René1989A Metrical Theory of Stress and Destressing in English and DutchDordrechtForis
    ABOUT THIS TOPIC
    Author(s):
    Björn Köhnlein
    Category:
    Dutch Phonology
    Publication date:
    14 May 2020
    Keywords:
    primary stress
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