What are the emphases of a sentence

Question

When we pronounce a sentence, how can know which word should be emphasized?

Some American told me my pronounciation is 'monotonous'. And I noticed. But I found people sometimes emphasize the nouns and the verbs, which I think are more important. But sometimes they just emphasize pronouns. That makes me confused.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]When we pronounce a sentence, how can know which word should be emphasized? Some American told me my pronounciation is ... your native language is, but some languages do not use rhythm and tone in the same way as in English.[/nq]
If your English is comprehensible I wouldn't worry too much about your speech being "monotonous". Can this american, for example, speak your language - or indeed any language other than english.

If you want to practice then I would advise using your language cassettes or CDs and practice copying the emphasis pattern used on teh cassette- You could record your repetitions onto a portable cassette recorder and compare your emphasis with the sentences you are copying.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]When we pronounce a sentence, how can know which word should beemphasized?[/nq]
Typically it's the key nouns and verbs of a sentence should be stressed, so in your sentence above , this would be "pronounce", "sentence", "know", "word" and "emphasized" - though sometimes a specific word will be emphasised to change the meaning of the sentence.
[nq:1]Some American told me my pronounciation is 'monotonous'.[/nq]
It's probably not the stressing of words/syllables in a sentence that is leading to your monotonous communication, it's probably the use of pitch; English pitch has a much wider range than almost any other language. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to predict pitch from the written word. To work on this, try copying native speakers, and exaggerate the rises and falls in pitch as you speak. (It'll probably sound excessive to you, but will sound more natural to a native speaker.)

Usenet · Answer

-- Original Message -- From: "Einde O'Callaghan" (Email Removed) Newsgroups: misc.education.language.english Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 9:08 AM Subject: Re: What are the emphases of a sentence
[nq:2]When we pronounce a sentence, how can know which word ... important. But sometimes they just emphasize pronouns. Thatmakes me confused.[/nq]
[nq:1]The emphasis shifts according to what we want to emphasise. You don't say what your native language is, but some ... your repetitions onto a portable cassette recorder and compare your emphasis with the sentences you are copying. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan[/nq]
I'd like to add something to this as I feel that whilst Einde is right to emphasize that being understood is the most important thing, sentence stress (which I am assuming you mean when you say emphasis) plays a vital part in being understood. An understanding of sentence stress can also help leaners in understanding what is being said to them.

tsj - if you go here (http://pronunciation.englishclub.com/sentence-stress.htm) there is a basic introduction to sentence stress which could provide a starting point to understanding. But be aware that the 'rules' are not as simple as this website is suggesting. As well as providing the 'music' of English, stress carries a lot of the meaning.

If you want to try improving your own sentence stress I would agree with Einde, lots of listening and practicing copying the stress patterns. But these are only possible patterns, the actual way sentences are stressed depends on teh meaning the speaker want to convey. Think about the difference in meaning with this sentence if you make each word the main stress:

That's not very expensive.

Hope that's of some use.

Steve

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]-- Original Message -- From: "Einde O'Callaghan" (Email Removed) Newsgroups: misc.education.language.english Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 9:08 AM Subject: Re: What are the emphases of a sentence[/nq]
[nq:1]emphasized? But think makes[/nq]
[nq:2]The emphasis shifts according to what we want to emphasise. ... emphasis with the sentences you are copying. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan[/nq]
[nq:1]I'd like to add something to this as I feel that whilst Einde is right to emphasize that being understood ... difference in meaning with this sentence if you make each word the main stress: Again I agree with you here.[/nq]
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

What are the emphases of a sentence

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