ABSTRACT
This chapter explains about Stress and Length. Length and stress, together with pitch or intonation, are often termed sound attributes: they are elements added to the sounds composing words and syllables and are of considerable importance in every language. Stress is defined as the degree of force with which a sound or syllable is uttered. Length of vowel is often bound up with stress, the vowels of the syllables which bear the main stress being longer than those in unstressed positions. In many African languages, however, stress such as we know it in European languages, does not exist. This is especially the case in tone languages, where correct use of pitch is of far greater importance than stress. European learners of African tone languages should be very much alive to the danger of transferring their own stress habits into the new language.
