Which language is cited as an example of a syllable-timed language in the material?

• A. Spanish
• B. English
• C. German
• D. Italian

Answer: (A)

Rhythm in syllable-timed languages is driven by roughly equal timing for each syllable, giving speech a steady, even pace. Spanish is a classic example because its syllables tend to have uniform timing and a vowel-based flow, so the rhythm stays relatively even regardless of which syllables are stressed. This contrasts with stress-timed languages, where the tempo is governed by stressed syllables and the gaps between them vary, making the rhythm feel less uniform. While some other languages (like Italian) are also described as syllable-timed in various sources, the material you’re studying specifically cites Spanish, which is why it’s the best choice here.