AIM: To identify the function of contrastive stress and practise using it in context.
INTRODUCTION: Sometimes word stress can be used in a sentence to contrast specific information. For example, in the alcohol case, the following dialogue takes place:
Patient: My partner thinks I'm drinking a bit much, so she asked me to come.
Doctor: And what do YOU think?
Play
In this exchange, by stressing the word 'you' the doctor highlights that she wants the patient's opinion, which may be different from his partner's opinion. This simple use of stress can be used effectively to express nuances of meaning.
Contrastive stress is used to point out the difference between one thing and another - here it's between what the patient thinks and what his partner thinks about his drinking.
Using contrastive stress to bring out a particular word in a sentence will also slightly change the meaning, as demonstrated in this activity.
INSTRUCTIONS: Listen to each recording and choose which meaning matches best. The first one is done as an example.
We'll run some blood tests next week
Play
A. Not eye tests
B. Not this week
C. Not someone else
The correct answer is C because the stress is on we it implies that it won't be somebody else doing the test.
FOLLOW-UP: Read these sentences aloud and stress a different underlined word each time – think about the change in meaning.
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
For example:
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
- The patient left this clinic yesterday.
- The x-rays were taken last week.
- The results should be here tomorrow.
- Some doctors recommend alternative therapies.
- A new hospital will really help this community.
For more practice on contrastive stress, go to this activity.
