本研究探討阿里山鄒語中的重音現象及重音與詞幹變化間的關係，特別是鄒語動詞在不同焦點形式下所出現的詞幹變化，以瞭解遣些變化是否存有音韻學上的規律對應關係（例如『懸掛』一詞在主事焦點時為t＜m＞iyhi，但在受事焦點時為tyih-a；『歌唱』一詞在主事焦點時為＂pasunaeno＂，但在受事焦點時為＂pasunaenv-a＂）。本研究主張，鄒語重音的配置可視為抑揚格音步的具體表現:所有非字尾音節由左至右畫為抑揚格音步（iambic feet），主要重音則落於最右端的音步主位(foot head)。如此一來，動詞詞幹變化所牽涉的非重音音節元音刪除（unstressed vowel deletion）及擦音化現象（spirantization）便可視為此種韻律結構的系統性表現。

This paper investigates the stress pattern of Tsou and explores how stress assignment correlates with stem alternation, as seen in the contrast of t＜m＞＂iyhi＂ 'hang, ACTOR VOICE' and ＂tyih-a＂ 'hang, PATIENT VOICE' and ＂pasunaeno-a＂ 'sing, ACTOR VOICE' vs. ＂pasunaenv-a＂ 'sing, PATIENT VOICE'. The present study proposes to interpret the stress pattern of Tsou by designating final syllable extrametricality and constructing iambic feet from left to right, with word stress falling on the rightmost foot. In doing so, this study is able to characterize the stress assignment of Tsou, together with the occurrence of stem alternation, in a systematic and unified manner.