Contrastive Stress

Mastering the American Accent » Contrastive Stress

Contrastive Stress

Be nice to people // on your way up // because you might meet them // on the way down.
Wilson Mizner

We also sometimes stress words to bring out a special meaning or to clarify what we mean when there is confusion. In this case, any word in a sentence can be stressed, including a function word.

Practice Sentences

Each of the following sentences can be stressed in four different ways, depending on the meaning that the speaker wants to convey.

1.	implied meaning:
I don’t love him.	....but she does
I don’t love him.	I really don’t.
I don’t love him.	But I think he’s a nice person.
I don’t love him.	But I love the other guy.

2.	implied meaning:
I may drive to New York.	Not she.
I may drive to New York.	Maybe, I’m not sure.
I may drive to New York.	Not fly.
I may drive to New York.	Not Boston.

Contrastive Stress for Clarification

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Notice how the stressed words emphasize a particular meaning or a need for clarification.

Do you need a ticket to Paris or from Paris?
Did you say inside or outside?
I want two pieces, not one.
It’s under the desk, not on the desk.
The government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Emphasizing Auxiliaries

Notice the extra stress placed on the auxiliaries to clarify or strengthen a point. The underlined word indicates extra stress.

a. You don’t understand me.
b. I do understand you.
a. You didn’t go, did you?
b. I did go.
a. It’s hot isn’t it?
b. It is hot.
a. You’ve never been here, have you?
b. I have been here.

Practice Dialogue

Making an Appointment

a. Hello, dentist’s office.
b. I’m calling // to make an appointment // for a dental checkup.
a. I have an opening // on Tuesday // at 5 pm.
b. I’ll have to work late // on that day. Do you have anything // on Friday morning?
a. I don’t have anything // on Friday morning, but I do have // Friday afternoon.
b. Hmm, let me check. I think I can make it. Yes, I can. I can make it.
a. Would you like three o’clock or four o’clock?
b. Four o’clock sounds good.
a. Will this be your first visit // to our office?
b. No, it’ll be my second visit.

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