Which symbol is commonly used to indicate lexical stress on a syllable?

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Multiple Choice

Which symbol is commonly used to indicate lexical stress on a syllable?

Explanation:
In phonetic transcription, the main emphasis on a syllable—its primary lexical stress—is shown with the symbol ˈ placed before the stressed syllable. This mark signals the strongest beat in the word and often accompanies changes in pronunciation such as longer vowels or higher pitch on that syllable. The secondary stress uses ˌ, a lighter emphasis on another syllable, but it isn’t the mark for the main stress. The symbols ː and ˑ relate to vowel length, not stress, so they don’t indicate which syllable carries the primary emphasis. Therefore, the symbol that indicates lexical stress on a syllable is the ˈ mark.

In phonetic transcription, the main emphasis on a syllable—its primary lexical stress—is shown with the symbol ˈ placed before the stressed syllable. This mark signals the strongest beat in the word and often accompanies changes in pronunciation such as longer vowels or higher pitch on that syllable. The secondary stress uses ˌ, a lighter emphasis on another syllable, but it isn’t the mark for the main stress. The symbols ː and ˑ relate to vowel length, not stress, so they don’t indicate which syllable carries the primary emphasis. Therefore, the symbol that indicates lexical stress on a syllable is the ˈ mark.

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