RULES OF ACCENTUATION (WITH EXAMPLES) - LITERATURE - 2024

The accentuation rules are the rules for placing the graphic mark called tilde (´). Its purpose is to indicate the greatest voice force in a syllable. The Royal Spanish Academy defines the accent or graphic or orthographic accent, as an auxiliary orthographic sign that represents the prosodic accent in writing.

In the case of the Spanish language, it is a small oblique line on a vowel. This indicates that the syllable on which it falls is pronounced with greater force and intensity. This must always be drawn from right to left (´). Now, the accent mark must be distinguished.

All words carry a certain load of intensity in their pronunciation (accent), even if they have only one syllable. In case of having two or more syllables, the intensity falls on one of these. However, not all words in the Spanish language have an accent; in general, its use is restricted.

Words have a standard in terms of accent. Those words that deviate from that standard are those with an accent. For example, most of the words in Spanish are flat (with greater voice force in the penultimate syllable) and end in the sounds “n” and “s”. So, words that do not meet that standard carry an accent.

In general terms, the stress rules take into account the position of the syllable where the greatest voice force lies, the need to distinguish words that sound the same and whether a group of two or three vowels are pronounced together or not.

In addition, when it comes to compound words (two or more words together that produce a word with a new meaning), their particularities must be considered to establish whether or not they carry an accent.

Rules of accentuation according to the prosodic accent

The prosodic accent is the greater relief or prominence given to a particular syllable over the others within a word. For example, the syllable that has the prosodic accent in the word “curtain” is “ti”.

On the other hand, the syllable with a prosodic accent is called a stressed syllable, and the others are called unstressed. This prosodic accent is only indicated orthographically - with the accent - only in certain cases. This can be seen in the following word pairs:

- Situation and truth

- Tree and grass

The stressed syllable in the first pair of words is the last. However, only one word has a graphic mark. The same happens with the second pair: the greatest voice force falls on the penultimate syllable, but only one word has an accent.

These differences obey stress rules that take into account both the distribution of the prosodic accent in the word and its final sound. These rules will be explained in detail below.

Sharp words

When the stressed syllable of a polysyllable word (more than one syllable) is in final position, it is known as an acute word.

According to the rules of accentuation, all acute words carry an accent if they end in a vowel or the consonants "n" and "s". The exception to this rule is when there is a consonant before the "s" (chalets).

Examples

Plain words

The stressed syllable of flat or grave words falls on the penultimate syllable. All plain words have a spelling accent when they do not end in a vowel or the consonants "n" and "s". Those ending in consonant + s (closets) are excepted

Examples

Words esdrújulas

Esdrújulas words are those whose stressed syllable falls on the penultimate syllable. Without exception, the rules of accentuation dictate that all esdrújulas words carry accent marks.

Examples

- Numbers.

- Hypothesis.

- Formula.

- Jurassic.

- Practice.

- Method.

- Cluster.

- Particle.

- Mathematics.

- Macroscopic.

Overdrug words

In the case of the overdrugal words, they have the prosodic accent (or stressed syllable) before the third to last syllable, and they always have an accent.

Examples

- Take it away.

- Tell him.

- Stirring us.

- Allowing them.

- Work it out.

Accentuation of hiatuses, diphthongs and triphthongs

The presence of a sequence of two or three vowels within the same word can form hiatuses, diphthongs or triphthongs. There are also specific accentuation rules for each of these cases.

Hiatuses

The hiatus occurs when a sequence of two vowels belongs to two different syllables; that is, they are articulated separately. It occurs in the following combinations:

- Two equal vowels: zo-ó-lo-go, al-ba-ha-ca *, cre-é-mos.

- Two different open vowels (a, e, o): ca-ma-le-ón, ca-os, ae-ro-pla-no.

- A closed vowel (i, u) stressed and an open vowel (a, e, o) unstressed: con-fí-e, ow-ho *, spark plug.

- An unstressed open vowel and a stressed closed vowel: e-go-ís-ta, baúl, corn.

* Note: the letter "h" inserted between the vowels does not influence the formation of the hiatus.

As can be seen in the examples, in the first and second cases the general accentuation rules explained in the previous section are taken into account. In the last two cases, the stressed closed vowel always carries an accent.

Examples

Diphthongs

A diphthong is a sequence of two vowels that are pronounced on the same syllable. The possible combinations are:

- An open vowel (a, e, o) and a closed vowel (i, u) unstressed: frai-le, ahu-ma-do **, di-réis, Eu-ro-pa.

- An unstressed closed vowel and an open vowel: en-vi-dia, a-cua-tico, con-ci-lio.

- Two closed vowels: ciu-dad, a-cuí-fe-ro

** Note: the letter "h" inserted between the vowels does not prevent the formation of the diphthong.

With regard to the tilde, for diphthongs the general accentuation rules must be taken into account. In the case of the closed vowel + closed vowel sequence, the graphic mark is placed over the second vowel.

Examples

Triphthongs

A tripthong is the conjunction of three vowels that are in the same syllable. The combination is closed vowel (unstressed) + open vowel + closed vowel (unstressed).

As in the case of diphthongs, the use of the tilde is governed by the general rules of accentuation. When it has a spelling accent, it is placed on the strong vowel.

Examples

Verb forms with enclitics

The forms "me", "te", "se", "le", "les", "lo", "los", "la", "las", "se" and "nos" can be linked to the verb (ex: promise me). In these cases they are called enclitic pronouns. These verb forms should follow the general stress rules.

Examples

- Send me (the combination is a hiatus. The word is esdrújula).

- Get dressed (word esdrújula).

- Tell him (plain word, ending in a vowel).

- Let's try it (word esdrújula).

- Recommending them (word sobreesdrújula).

Capital accent

The spelling sign should not be omitted for upper case if required by the rules. In the past, accent placement was a bit difficult when using typewriters; today, this omission is no longer justified.

Examples

- “CAPITAL LETTERS ARE ALSO CALLED VERSAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN THE INITIAL OF ALL AND EACH OF THE VERSES OF THE POEMS. CAPITAL LETTERS - OFTEN DIFFERENT NOT ONLY IN SIZE BUT IN FIGURE AND TRAIL - REPRESENT EXACTLY THE SAME SOUNDS OR PHONEMES AS THE CORRESPONDING SMALL LETTERS ".

- «Green trees bloomed in the field. Unique in their style, the trees of this tropical forest provided freshness and beauty. We were just two people enjoying this beautiful and imposing landscape ».

Suppression of diacritical marks by the RAE

Previously, the adverb “solo” (only) had a diacritical mark to distinguish it from the homonymous adjective “solo”. The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) removed this accent in 2010.

In addition, the accent in "this", "this", "these", "these", "that", "that", "those", "those", "that", "that" and "those" was removed.. Thus, they are written without the spelling sign when they function as pronouns or as determiners.

Examples

- That man studied mathematics / That is a good doctor

- These changes are very good news / These tires need replacement.

- That book is not mine / He who is there is calling you.

The tilde in the disjunctive conjunction "or" was also deleted, regardless of whether it appears between words, figures or signs.

Examples

- I prefer fruit juice or wine.

- He was born in 1988 or 1989.

- You can use the + or - signs if you want.

References

1. Ávila, F. (2002). Where does the tilde go? Bogotá: Editorial Norma.
2. Royal Spanish Academy. (2005). Pan-Hispanic Dictionary of Doubts. Taken from lema.rae.es
3. Rodríguez Guzmán, JP (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
4. Hualde, JI; Olarrea, A and Escobar, AM (2001). Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics.

   New York: Cambridge University Press.

5. Pastor, A. Escobar, D.; Mayoral, E. and Ruiz, F. (2014). Communication and Society I. Madrid: Ediciones Paraninfo.
6. De Vecchi Language School. (2012). Correct Spanish Spelling. Barcelona: De Vecchi Ediciones.
7. García, S.; Meilán, AJ and Martínez, H. (2004). Build well in Spanish: the form of words. Oviedo: Ediuno.
8. García-Macho, ML; García-Page Sánchez, M.; Gómez Manzano, P and Cuesta Martínez; P. (2017). Basic knowledge of the Spanish language. Madrid: Editorial Universitaria Ramon Areces.
9. Veciana, R. (2004). The Spanish accentuation: new manual of the accentual norms. Santander: University of Cantabria.
10. Royal Spanish Academy. (2010). Main novelties of the last edition of the Spelling of the Spanish language (2010). Taken from rae.es.