Abstract

The issue of word stress in modern German is still a matter of discussion in the phonological research. Researchers propose either a quantity-sensitive or a quantity-insensitive approach. For instance, Wiese (1988, 1996) and Eisenberg (1992) argue that syllable weight has no impact on lexical stress. On the other hand, Vennemann (1988, 1992), Ramers (1988, 1992) and Janßen (2003) show that lexical stress strongly depends on syllable weight. Some researchers (e.g. Janßen) have conducted studies with artificial words to demonstrate the strong influence of syllable weight on lexical stress. But these studies, I believe, are arguably flawed. In this essay I will therefore present another approach. I have analyzed actual German words which the writer Walter Moers altered artistically in his novel Rumo, based on the audio book read by the German actor Dirk Bach. Based on these data I will show that lexical stress depends on syllable weight.