Strong form

Strong forms occur in stress-timed languages such as English when the word is fully stressed. In a strong form, vowels are pronounced in full; conversely a weak form reduces vowels to schwas (/ə/). Consonants may also be altered or omitted. Choice of form can change significantly the emphasis in a sentence - & therefore the information conveyed by the speaker. In addition strong forms signal a more formal register & weak forms a casual register.

For instance, if one says “I would like fish 'n' chips" then there is nothing more to the sentence than the simple request of a singular meal. However, if one were to say “I would like fish and chips" then it implies that there are two separate meals & that one would like them both.

Common words with strong & weak forms include:

A —> /eɪ/ —> /ə/

And —> /ænd/ —> /ən/

Can —> /kæn/ —> /kən/

Could —> /kʊd/ —> /kəd/

Do —> /duː/ —> /də/

I —> /aɪ/ —> /ə/

The —> /ðiː/ —> /ðə/

To —> /tuː/ —> /tə/

Were —> /wɜː/ —> /wə/

You —> /juː/ —> /jə/

Your -> /jɔː/ -> /jə/