1. A lexical stress prediction system for receiving data representing at least part of a word and outputting data representing the position of lexical stress of the word, the system comprising a plurality of stress prediction model means for finding matches between model data and received data, the plurality of model means comprising: a first model means for receiving the received data and searching for a match between the model data and the received data, and if a match for the received data is found, outputting prediction data representative of a prediction of lexical stress corresponding to the received data; and a default model means for receiving the received data if no match is found in any other of the plurality of model means, and outputting prediction data representative of a prediction of lexical stress corresponding to the received data.