This chapter will introduce you to the concepts of stress and rhythm in relation to languages and to varieties of English. The chapter begins by defining stress both acoustically and articulatorily, and then examining stress across varieties. This is examined first at the level of the syllable through a focus on strong vs weak syllables in English, and the relationship between strong/weak syllables and stress. The discussion then focuses on the concept of word stress in varieties of English, after which rhythm and pitch accent are introduced, through an examination of stress- and syllable-timing, in different languages as well as varieties of English. This discussion will also present information about the function of stress and pitch accent in various substrate languages for different varieties - such as Cantonese, Malay, Filipino, Spanish, among others - to help you understand the different stress and rhythm patterns that exist across varieties. In the final section of the chapter, you will be guided through exercises designed to check your understanding of the content of the chapter.

This paper covers the methods for measuring rhythm and the main paradigms used to study rhythm perception. An overview of ideas about speech rhythm is provided, starting with the traditional view of isochrony and rhythm classes. Production and perception methods used to establish rhythm-class differences are presented and critically reviewed, as are a number of research practices associated with them. Recent developments leading to an alternative view of rhythm are discussed, and suggestions for pedagogical practice and future research are provided.