Contrastive Stress | Sentence Stress | English Pronunciation

Summary

In this video, the concept of contrastive stress in sentence structure is explored. Contrastive stress is used to emphasize specific words in a sentence, altering the meaning without changing the grammar or word order. Through various examples, the video demonstrates how shifting stress from one word to another can change the focus and implication of a sentence, such as distinguishing between 'good' and 'great' or emphasizing different ideas. The video also highlights the role of contrastive stress in questions, answers, and comparisons, helping viewers understand its impact on communication and meaning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Contrastive stress is a type of sentence stress used to highlight a specific word in a sentence to change its meaning.
• 😀 There are four types of sentence stress, and contrastive stress is used when you want to send a special message that differs from the neutral meaning of the sentence.
• 😀 Contrastive stress does not change the word order or grammar of a sentence, but it shifts the emphasis to one word, making it louder, clearer, and with a different pitch.
• 😀 By changing which word is stressed, the overall meaning of the sentence changes, even though the structure remains the same.
• 😀 An example of contrastive stress: 'She doesn't think this is a good idea' can convey different meanings based on which word is stressed (e.g., 'She doesn't think this is a good idea' vs 'She doesn't think this is a good idea').
• 😀 Contrastive stress is often used with content words like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and determiners to emphasize contrasts in meaning.
• 😀 Determiners like 'this' and 'that' are often stressed to convey contrast in meaning, such as 'I think I prefer this color' versus 'I think I prefer that color.'
• 😀 In question-answer scenarios, contrastive stress helps clarify choices, such as 'Pizza, please' (choosing pizza over pasta) or 'No, let's eat outside' (contradicting the inside suggestion).
• 😀 Contrastive stress is frequently used to emphasize comparisons, like 'I'm very good at tidying, but I'm really bad at cooking,' showing a contrast between two abilities.
• 😀 The video includes a practice exercise where viewers must identify the meaning conveyed by moving stress in a sentence, showing how changing stress alters the interpretation.
• 😀 Contrastive stress can be practiced by repeating sentences and emphasizing different words, allowing learners to better understand how stress affects meaning in spoken language.

Q & A

What is contrastive stress in English?

Contrastive stress is a type of sentence stress used to emphasize a specific word in a sentence to convey a particular meaning, which differs from the neutral or original meaning of the sentence. The stressed word is pronounced more strongly, louder, and with a change in pitch compared to the other words in the sentence.

How does contrastive stress affect the meaning of a sentence?

Contrastive stress changes the meaning of a sentence without altering the word order or grammar. By stressing different words in the sentence, the speaker highlights particular aspects or contrasts that were not emphasized in the neutral version of the sentence.

Can the word order in a sentence change when applying contrastive stress?

No, when applying contrastive stress, the word order remains the same. The only change is in the emphasis placed on certain words, which alters the meaning of the sentence.

What type of words are typically stressed in contrastive stress?

In contrastive stress, content words like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are typically stressed. These are the words that carry the primary meaning in the sentence.

How does stress placement on the word 'she' change the meaning of the sentence 'She doesn't think this is a good idea'?

When stress is placed on 'she', the meaning emphasizes that it is 'she' (and not someone else) who doesn't think it's a good idea. This suggests a contrast with other people who may think it's a good idea.

What does stressing the word 'doesn't' in the sentence 'She doesn't think this is a good idea' imply?

Stressing 'doesn't' implies a contradiction or correction, emphasizing that it's not true that she thinks the idea is good. This could clarify a misunderstanding or challenge a false assumption.

How does stressing 'think' in the sentence 'She doesn't think this is a good idea' change the meaning?

Stressing 'think' suggests that the speaker is referring to her mental state or opinion, perhaps implying that even though she hasn't directly stated it, it's clear from her expression that she doesn't believe it's a good idea.

What is the effect of stressing 'good' in the sentence 'She doesn't think this is a good idea'?

Stressing 'good' contrasts it with another adjective, potentially changing the interpretation of the sentence. For example, the speaker might be emphasizing that she doesn't think it's 'good', but possibly considering it 'great' or 'terrible' instead.

How does stressing 'idea' in the sentence 'She doesn't think this is a good idea' affect the meaning?

Stressing 'idea' shifts the focus to the concept or activity itself. It could imply that the activity is good in general but isn't appropriate in this context, suggesting an alternative focus (e.g., studying instead of playing football).

In what contexts is contrastive stress commonly used?

Contrastive stress is commonly used in contexts such as question-answer interactions, making contrasts, clarifying misunderstandings, or emphasizing specific aspects of a statement. For example, in a conversation where one person chooses between pizza or pasta, stressing 'pizza' indicates the choice being made.