Introduction

The Relevance of the Topic

Understanding the tonic syllable is extremely relevant for mastering the Portuguese language. It becomes the basis for the study of graphic accentuation and other linguistic phenomena, such as plural formation, differentiation of verb tenses, among others. Understanding the tonicity of a word means understanding its sound structure and how it influences and is influenced by the linguistic context.

Contextualization

In the vast universe of Portuguese, specifically in the grammar discipline, we find ourselves in a linguistic terrain full of surprises and nuances. In this context, 'Tonicity: Tonic Syllable' emerges as one of the first stops on the learning journey. This theme is like a lighthouse that guides us through the vastness of language rules and exceptions. Knowing and understanding the tonic syllable will support us in future grammatical explorations and also in the appreciation of the rich literature that our language offers.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Tonic Syllable: It is essentially the syllable of a word that is pronounced with more strength, more intensity. It is responsible for defining the rhythm of the word and the discourse as a whole. In a word with three or more syllables, one of these syllables will always have a greater emphasis, the tonic. Understanding and identifying this syllable constitute the core of our study.

  • Atonic Syllables: These are the syllables of the word that are pronounced with less intensity. The syllables that are not tonic are, by definition, atonic. The presence and position of these syllables in a word directly influence the tonic syllable.

• Types of Tonicity: Words, according to the location of the tonic syllable, are classified into three types:

  • Oxytone: The tonic syllable is the last syllable of the word (e.g., cafezal).
  • Paroxytone: The tonic syllable is the penultimate syllable of the word (e.g., lâmpada).
  • Proparoxytone: The tonic syllable is the antepenultimate syllable of the word (e.g., cômodo).

Key Terms

• Tonic Accent: It is the graphic accent that marks the tonic syllable in writing. In the Portuguese language, the tonic accent is indicated with the tilde (˜) for oxytone words, with the acute accent (´) for paroxytones, and with the circumflex accent (^) for proparoxytones.

Examples and Cases

• Oxytone Words: In the case of oxytone words, the tonic falls on the last syllable. Examples: café, caminhão, funil.
• Paroxytone Words: For paroxytone words, the tonic syllable is located on the penultimate syllable. Examples: lâmpada, livro, cadeira.
• Proparoxytone Words: In proparoxytone words, the tonic is on the antepenultimate syllable. Examples: cômodo, régua, céu.

With these concepts and key terms, we now move on to evaluating them through questions.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• Tonicity and Tonic Syllable: These concepts form the basis for vocal accentuation and the differentiation of verb tenses in Portuguese. The tonic marks the intensity and rhythm of the discourse, and every word with more than two syllables has a tonic syllable.

• Types of Tonicity: It is essential to recognize the different types of tonicity. The classification of words into oxytones, paroxytones, and proparoxytones is an effective tool to locate the tonic syllable. This classification is determined by the position of the tonic syllable in the word.

• Atonic Syllables: Recognizing atonic syllables is as important as recognizing the tonic. The syllables that are not tonic are, by definition, atonic. Their presence and position in a word also influence the tonic syllable.

• Tonic Accent: It is the formal mark that indicates the tonic syllable in writing. Each type of word (oxytone, paroxytone, proparoxytone) has a corresponding tonic accent (tilde, acute accent, circumflex accent).

Conclusions

• Importance of Tonicity: The ability to identify the tonic syllable in a word is crucial for the correct understanding of the word in context.

• Graphic Accentuation: Knowledge of tonicity extends to the study of graphic accentuation, as the tonic accent informs the choice of accent in the writing of the word.

Exercises

1. Identifying the Tonic Syllable: Given a set of words, identify the tonic syllable in each one. Then, classify each word as oxytone, paroxytone, or proparoxytone.

2. Determining the Graphic Accent: For a given set of words, determine the correct graphic accent for the tonic syllable, according to the classification (oxytone, paroxytone, proparoxytone).

3. Relationship between Tonicity and Graphic Accentuation: Based on already accented words, identify if the graphic accentuation is correct or if there is any graphic accent that is not in accordance with the tonicity of the word.