Distributed

[pne]

I just heard Jason Vokes of Borland pronounce distributed teams with primary stress on the first syllable (distributed).

At first, I expected him to put primary stress on the second syllable (distributed)... but when I thought about it, his stress felt natural.

In fact, I think I'd make a distinction between the two: distributed is metaphoric (distributed teams, distributed systems: things spread out over several places or systems), while distributed is literal, and applies to things such as letters or packages which are, well distributed by a distributor. (The process, however, is distribution, with secondary stress on the first syllable and primary on the third, and no stress at all on the second.)

Or maybe my stress is just completely off?

Comments

[nik-w.livejournal.com]

I always pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable - to me, stressing the second sounds more American.

[allegrox.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. I almost always hear it stressed on the second syllable here in the US, and I always say it that way myself.

[pne.livejournal.com]

Ah, that may be it -- Jason is from the UK, and I've probably heard more American English than British English.

[leighbug]

I use distribution as in "distribution center". I use distribution as in "I distributed the items throughout the house".

I think that's how it typically is in the US.