Akrocentrisen

Akrocentrisen is a term used in linguistics to describe a type of word or phrase where the primary stress or accent falls on the final syllable. This is in contrast to proparoxytone words, where the stress falls on the antepenultimate (third to last) syllable, or paroxytone words, where the stress falls on the penultimate (second to last) syllable. Akrocentricity is a feature found in many languages, though its prominence and specific realization can vary significantly.

For example, in languages like Spanish, many words are akrocentric, such as "canción" (song), where the stress is on the final syllable. In contrast, English has a more mixed pattern, with some akrocentric words like "banana" and others with stress on earlier syllables. The concept is important for understanding the phonological structure of words and how they are pronounced within a given language. It also plays a role in determining rhythm and intonation patterns. Understanding akrocentricity helps in accurate pronunciation and can be a factor in language learning. The identification of akrocentric words is often a key aspect of phonological analysis.