This subtle difference in the meaning on different stressed syllables opened our eyes to something we didn’t kow

Caught this in ImgUr and we’d never heard of it before and found it fascinating:

This little detail about the English language explains the difference between the noun record (an LP) and the verb record (to record). Basically if the first syllable is stressed it’s more likely to be a verb and the latter, a noun.

Who knew?

Wikipedia defines it as, “Initial-stress derivation is a phonological process in English that moves stress to the first syllable of verbs when they are used as nouns or adjectives.”

You probably now want a list of words to play with?

Say these 173 words out loud, moving the stress around to see how the meaning changes.

absent
abstract
accent
access
addict
address
affect
affix
alloy
ally
annex
assay
attribute
augment
belay
bombard
combat
combine
commune
compact
complex
compost
compound
compress
concert
conduct
confect
confine(s)
conflict
conscript
conserve
consist
console
consort
construct
consult
content
contest
contract
contrast
converse
convert
convict
costume
decrease
default
defect
desert
detail
dictate
digest
discard
discharge
discount
discourse
dismount
embed
envelope
escort
essay
excise
exploit
export
extract
ferment
finance
foretaste
foretoken
forward
frequent
gallant
impact
implant
impound
import
impress
imprint
incense
incline
increase
indent
inlay
insert
insult
intercept
interchange
intercross
interdict
interlink
interlock
intern
interplay
interspace
interweave
intrigue
invert
invite
involute
mismatch
mandate
misprint
object
offset
overcount
overlap
overlay
overlook
override
overrun
overturn
perfect
perfume
permit
pervert
prefix
present
proceed(s)
process
produce
progress
project
protest
purport
rebel
recall
recap
recess
recoil
record
re-count
redirect
redo
redress
refill
refund
refuse
regress
rehash
reject
relapse
relay
remake
repeat
report
reprint
research
reserve
reset
retake
retard
retract
retread
rewrite
segment
subject
survey
suspect
torment
transfer
transform
transplant
transect
transport
transpose
traverse
undercount
underlay
underline
underscore
update
upgrade
uplift
upset

Source: http://i.imgur.com/WFFc9uJ.jpg