noun/verb and stress

ment$ (v; n)

There are 24 -ment words, which function as verbs/nouns. When you look at their stress patterns, they look arbitrary.

Stress change:

augment /v. ɔgˈmɛnt; n. ˈɔgmɛnt/ 
fragment /n. ˈfrægmənt; v. ˈfrægmənt, -mɛnt, frægˈmɛnt/
torment  /v. tɔrˈmɛnt,  n. ˈtɔrmɛnt/ 
ferment /n. ˈfɜrmɛnt; v. fərˈmɛnt/

Vowel change:

aliment /n. ˈæləmənt; v. ˈæləˌmɛnt/
fragment /n. ˈfrægmənt; v. ˈfrægmɛnt/
segment /n. ˈsɛgmənt; v. ˈsɛgmɛnt/
pigment
regiment /n. ˈrɛdʒəmənt; v. ˈrɛdʒəˌmɛnt/
 implement  /n. ˈɪmpləmənt; v. ˈɪmpləˌmɛnt, -mənt/ 


Verb:


fo'ment (first full vowel)
la'ment



Old verbs --> New nouns (stress shift): 'ferment vs fer'ment
Old nouns --> New verbs (vowel change): munt vs ,ment

aliment augment cement comment compartment complement compliment defragment dement document experiment ferment

foment fragment garment implement instrument lament ornament pigment regiment segment supplement torment