Sentence stress

What is sentence stress?

Sentence stress is what gives English
its rhythm ( a strong regular
repeated pattern of sounds) or
“beat”.
Elements of sentence stress
Intonation
The rise and fall of the voice in
speaking, especially as this affects
the meaning of what is being said.

Pitch
How high or low a sound is.
The pitch of the sound plays the
most important part in intonation.

When we speak normally, the pitch

of our voice is constantly changing.
 Tone
The overall behavior of the pitch is
tone.

It is the quality of somebody’s voice,

especially expressing a particular
emotion.
The languages in which the rise and
fall of the tone changes the meaning,
called tone languages.
For example
Chinese
Ma (level tone) – mother
Ma (rising tone) – hemp
Ma (falling tone) - scold
English is not a tone language
Some functions of English tones
Fall

An impression of finality.
Nothing more to be said.
Question is answered.
 Rise
Conveys an impression that
something more is to follow.

Fall – rise
Limited agreement or response with
reservations.
 Rise – fall
Convey rather strong feelings of
approval, disapproval or surprise.

Level
This tone is certainly used in English,
but in rather restricted context.
It almost always conveys a feeling of
saying something routine,
uninteresting or boring.
How can stress change the
meaning of the sentence?
I’m not going.
Means?
I’m not going.
Means?
Not “me”, but perhaps “you”,
“she” or “he”.
I’m not going.
Means?
I refuse to go.
I’m not going.
Means?
I’m not going. I’m coming back.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
What does it mean?
I don’t think he should get the
job.

Means?
Somebody else thinks he
should get the job.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
Means?
It is not true that I think he
should get the job.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
Means?
 That’s not really what I
mean.
Or
I am not sure he get that
job.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
Means?
Somebody else should get
that job.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
Means?
 In my opinion it’s wrong
that he is going to get that
job.
I don’t think he should get the
job.
Means?
He should have to earn (be
worthy of, work hard for)
that job.
I don’t think he should get that
job.
Means?
He should get another job.
I don’t think he should get that
job.
Means?
 May be he should get
something else instead.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
What does it means?
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
Not another person.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
Don’t you understand me?
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
Not another person.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
It’s a possibility.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
She should think about it.
It’s a good idea.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
Not just a hair cut.
I said she might consider a
new hair cut.
Means?
Not something else.
Mary bought a book about
bats.
Means?
Mary bought a book about
bats.
Means?
What did Mary buy a book
about?
Mary bought a book about
bats.
Means?
What kind of book did Marry buy?
Mary bought a book about
bats.
Means?
What did Marry buy?
Mary bought a book about
bats.
Means?
What’s been happening?
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
Not Henry
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
Not badminton
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
Not in Gleneagles
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
Not only one or two
Saturdays.
John plays golf in St Andrews
every Saturday.
Means?
Not every Sunday
We always fly to France in the
summer.
Means?
We always fly to France in the
summer.
Means?
Not to Switzerland
We always fly to France in the
summer.
Means?
Not in winter.

But we prefer to stay at home

in the winter.
We always fly to France in the
summer.
Means?
We don’t go by car.
We always fly to France in the
summer.
Means?
Are you going to France this
year?