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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/