sentence stress: voice and accent

Sentence stressSentence stress

What is sentence stress?What is sentence stress?

Sentence stress is what gives English Sentence stress is what gives English its rhythm ( a strong regular its rhythm ( a strong regular repeated pattern of sounds) or repeated pattern of sounds) or “beat”.“beat”.

Elements of sentence stressElements of sentence stress

IntonationIntonation

The rise and fall of the voice in The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, especially as this affects speaking, especially as this affects the meaning of what is being said.the meaning of what is being said.

PitchPitch

How high or low a sound is.How high or low a sound is.

The pitch of the sound plays the The pitch of the sound plays the most important part in intonation.most important part in intonation.

When we speak normally, the pitch When we speak normally, the pitch of our voice is constantly changing.of our voice is constantly changing.

ToneTone

The overall behavior of the pitch is The overall behavior of the pitch is tone.tone.

It is the quality of somebody’s voice, It is the quality of somebody’s voice, especially expressing a particular especially expressing a particular emotion.emotion.

The languages in which the rise and The languages in which the rise and fall of the tone changes the meaning, fall of the tone changes the meaning, called tone languages.called tone languages.

For exampleFor example

ChineseChinese

Ma (level tone) – motherMa (level tone) – mother

Ma (rising tone) – hempMa (rising tone) – hemp

Ma (falling tone) - scoldMa (falling tone) - scold

English is not a tone languageEnglish is not a tone language

Some functions of English tonesSome functions of English tones

FallFall

An impression of finality.An impression of finality.

Nothing more to be said.Nothing more to be said.

Question is answered.Question is answered.

RiseRise

Conveys an impression that Conveys an impression that something more is to follow.something more is to follow.

Fall – riseFall – rise

Limited agreement or response with Limited agreement or response with reservations.reservations.

Rise – fallRise – fall

Convey rather strong feelings of Convey rather strong feelings of approval, disapproval or surprise.approval, disapproval or surprise.

LevelLevel

This tone is certainly used in English, This tone is certainly used in English, but in rather restricted context.but in rather restricted context.

It almost always conveys a feeling of It almost always conveys a feeling of saying something routine, saying something routine, uninteresting or boring.uninteresting or boring.

How can stress change the How can stress change the meaning of the sentence?meaning of the sentence?

I’m not going.I’m not going.

Means?Means?

I’mI’m not going.not going.

Means?Means?

Not “me”, but perhaps “you”, Not “me”, but perhaps “you”, “she” or “he”. “she” or “he”.

I’m I’m notnot going. going.

Means?Means?

I refuse to go.I refuse to go.

I’m not I’m not goinggoing..

Means?Means?

I’m not going. I’m coming back.I’m not going. I’m coming back.

I don’t think he should get the I don’t think he should get the job.job.

What does it mean?What does it mean?

II don’t think he should get the don’t think he should get the job.job.

Means?Means?

Somebody else thinks he Somebody else thinks he should get the job.should get the job.

I I don’tdon’t think he should get the think he should get the job.job.

Means?Means?

It is not true that I think he It is not true that I think he should get the job.should get the job.

I don’t I don’t thinkthink he should get the he should get the job.job.

Means?Means?

That’s not really what I That’s not really what I mean.mean.

OrOr

I am not sure he get that I am not sure he get that job.job.

I don’t think I don’t think hehe should get the should get the job.job.

Means?Means?

Somebody else should get Somebody else should get that job.that job.

I don’t think he I don’t think he shouldshould get the get the job.job.

Means?Means?

In my opinion it’s wrong In my opinion it’s wrong that he is going to get that that he is going to get that

job.job.

I don’t think he should I don’t think he should getget the the job.job.

Means?Means?

He should have to earn (be He should have to earn (be worthy of, work hard for) worthy of, work hard for)

that job.that job.

I don’t think he should get I don’t think he should get thatthat job.job.

Means?Means?

He should get another job.He should get another job.

I don’t think he should get that I don’t think he should get that jobjob..

Means?Means?

May be he should get May be he should get something else instead.something else instead.

I said she might consider a I said she might consider a new hair cut.new hair cut.

What does it means?What does it means?

II said she might consider a said she might consider a new hair cut.new hair cut.

Means?Means?

Not another person.Not another person.

I I saidsaid she might consider a she might consider a new hair cut.new hair cut.

Means?Means?

Don’t you understand me?Don’t you understand me?

I said I said sheshe might consider a might consider a new hair cut.new hair cut.

Means?Means?

Not another person.Not another person.

I said she I said she mightmight consider a consider a new hair cut.new hair cut.

Means?Means?

It’s a possibility.It’s a possibility.

I said she might I said she might considerconsider a a new hair cut.new hair cut.

Means?Means?

She should think about it. She should think about it. It’s a good idea.It’s a good idea.

I said she might consider a I said she might consider a newnew hair cut. hair cut.

Means?Means?

Not just a hair cut.Not just a hair cut.

I said she might consider a I said she might consider a new new hair cuthair cut..

Means?Means?

Not something else.Not something else.

Mary bought a book about Mary bought a book about bats.bats.

Means?Means?

Mary bought a book about Mary bought a book about batsbats..

Means?Means?

What did Mary buy a book about?What did Mary buy a book about?

Mary bought a book Mary bought a book about about batsbats..

Means?Means?

What kind of book did Marry buy?What kind of book did Marry buy?

Mary bought Mary bought a book about a book about batsbats..

Means?Means?

What did Marry buy?What did Marry buy?

Mary bought a book about Mary bought a book about batsbats..

Means?Means?

What’s been happening?What’s been happening?

John plays golf in St Andrews John plays golf in St Andrews every Saturday.every Saturday.

Means?Means?

JohnJohn plays golf in St Andrews plays golf in St Andrews every Saturday.every Saturday.

Means?Means?

Not HenryNot Henry

John plays John plays golfgolf in St Andrews in St Andrews every Saturday.every Saturday.

Means?Means?

Not badmintonNot badminton

John plays golf in John plays golf in StSt AndrewsAndrews every Saturday.every Saturday.

Means?Means?

Not in GleneaglesNot in Gleneagles

John plays golf in St Andrews John plays golf in St Andrews everyevery Saturday. Saturday.

Means?Means?

Not only one or two Not only one or two Saturdays.Saturdays.

John plays golf in St Andrews John plays golf in St Andrews every every SaturdaySaturday..

Means?Means?

Not every SundayNot every Sunday

We always fly to France in the We always fly to France in the summer.summer.

Means?Means?

We always fly to We always fly to FranceFrance in the in the summer.summer.

Means?Means?

Not to SwitzerlandNot to Switzerland

We always fly to France in the We always fly to France in the summersummer..

Means?Means?

Not in winter.Not in winter.

But we prefer to stay at home But we prefer to stay at home in the winter.in the winter.

We always We always flyfly to France in the to France in the summer.summer.

Means?Means?

We don’t go by car.We don’t go by car.

We We alwaysalways fly to France in the fly to France in the summer.summer.

Means?Means?

Are you going to France this Are you going to France this year?year?