Syllable timing vs. stress timing

SAsE, including PakE, is described as a syllable-timed variety (Nelson 1982; Kachru 1983). Syllables in PakE occur at regular intervals. This is different from RP which is stress-timed with variation in the length of syllables. The traditional explanation for this difference between RP and PakE is given in terms of the first language. Most South Asian languages, including Urdu, are syllable-timed and therefore it is concluded that this pattern is adopted by Urdu speakers of English. The syllable-timed rhythm of PakE goes hand-in-hand with a lack of reduction.