Shift of emphasis from first to second syllable in polysyllabic words

[Jacopo]

Can anyone explain why this has happened? I could give many examples but two recent ones are:
PERgola = what I heard growing up
PerGOLa = what I hear on BBC now
COMMunal = what I heard growing up
CommUNal = what I hear on BBC now

You will have guessed that I watch shows about property development, but there are many other examples from other fields.
Why has this happened?

[Fifthtimelucky]

I don't know why but this has been happening for a while.

I imagine very few people now put the emphasis on the first syllable in words like exquisite and hospitable but that used to be the norm.

[keiratwiceknightly]

Americanisation via tv etc. Classic one is HARRassment (British) which is now harRASSment (US) even on the BBC

[campion]

Lamentable.
In more ways than one.

It's a combination of ignorance and American influence, but the BBC, at least, should make more effort.

[unnumber]

LAmentabl indeed - no changes allowed

[CoronaPeroni]

Homage has changed the other way, from first to second. HOMij is now omARJ.

[campion]

@CoronaPeroni

Homage has changed the other way, from first to second. HOMij is now omARJ.

DH reserves a special shriek for that one! I tense up in anticipation

[CoronaPeroni]

[SenecaFallsRedux]

@keiratwiceknightly

Americanisation via tv etc. Classic one is HARRassment (British) which is now harRASSment (US) even on the BBC

Lots of Americans (including me) pronounce both "harassment" and "pergola" with the accent on the first syllable. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard pergola pronounced any other way in the US.

[WhatsWrongWithMyUsername]

@Jacopo

Can anyone explain why this has happened? I could give many examples but two recent ones are:
PERgola = what I heard growing up
PerGOLa = what I hear on BBC now
COMMunal = what I heard growing up
CommUNal = what I hear on BBC now

You will have guessed that I watch shows about property development, but there are many other examples from other fields.
Why has this happened?

Could be worse. We’re having our commUNial space at work refurbished at the moment, apparently.

[Jacopo]

Great examples! Probably no chance of reversing the trend.

[Fifthtimelucky]

Of course the trend is going the other way with some two syllable words which many people now pronounce with the emphasis on the first syllable rather than the second.

Research and Romance come to mind but I'm sure there are others too.