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Question

Difficulty: EasyWord and Syllable Stress

Which of the following options correctly indicates the primary syllable stress in the word 'diplomatic'?

  1. A
    DIP-lo-mat-ic
  2. B
    dip-LO-mat-ic
  3. dip-lo-MAT-icAnswer
  4. D
    dip-lo-mat-IC

Answer

dip-lo-MAT-ic
In English oral phonology, words ending with the suffix '-ic' systematically receive primary stress on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable. In 'diplomatic' (dip-lo-mat-ic), the penultimate syllable is 'MAT', making 'dip-lo-MAT-ic' the correct stress pattern.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the suffix attached to the root word.
The word 'diplomatic' ends with the adjectival suffix '-ic'.
Specific suffixes dictate primary stress placement in English.
2
Apply the phonological rule for words ending in '-ic'.
Primary stress is assigned to the penultimate syllable ('MAT').
Suffixes like '-ic', '-ion', and '-ian' shift primary stress to the syllable immediately preceding them.

Key Concept

Penultimate Syllable Stress with '-ic' Suffix
Estimated Time:40s
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Topics

Word and Syllable Stress

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