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Stress and Intonation: The Prosody of Speech

Description: This quiz will assess your understanding of stress and intonation, which are fundamental aspects of the prosody of speech. These elements play a crucial role in conveying meaning, emotions, and emphasis in spoken language.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: stress intonation prosody phonetics phonology speech
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What is stress in speech?

  1. The relative prominence of a syllable in a word or phrase.

  2. The pitch of a speaker's voice.

  3. The duration of a syllable.

  4. The loudness of a speaker's voice.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Stress is the relative prominence of a syllable in a word or phrase. It is typically indicated by increased loudness, higher pitch, or longer duration of the stressed syllable.

What is intonation in speech?

  1. The variation in pitch of a speaker's voice.

  2. The relative prominence of a syllable in a word or phrase.

  3. The duration of a syllable.

  4. The loudness of a speaker's voice.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Intonation is the variation in pitch of a speaker's voice. It is used to convey meaning, emotions, and emphasis in spoken language.

What is the primary function of stress in speech?

  1. To distinguish between different words.

  2. To convey emotions.

  3. To indicate the grammatical structure of a sentence.

  4. To emphasize certain words or phrases.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The primary function of stress in speech is to distinguish between different words. For example, in English, the words 'record' (noun) and 'record' (verb) are pronounced with different stress patterns, allowing listeners to distinguish their meanings.

What is the primary function of intonation in speech?

  1. To distinguish between different words.

  2. To convey emotions.

  3. To indicate the grammatical structure of a sentence.

  4. To emphasize certain words or phrases.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The primary function of intonation in speech is to convey emotions. For example, a speaker may use rising intonation to express surprise or excitement, and falling intonation to express sadness or disappointment.

What is the difference between stress and intonation?

  1. Stress is related to the prominence of syllables, while intonation is related to the variation in pitch.

  2. Stress is related to the duration of syllables, while intonation is related to the loudness of syllables.

  3. Stress is related to the pitch of syllables, while intonation is related to the rhythm of syllables.

  4. Stress is related to the loudness of syllables, while intonation is related to the duration of syllables.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Stress is related to the prominence of syllables, which can be indicated by increased loudness, higher pitch, or longer duration. Intonation, on the other hand, is related to the variation in pitch of a speaker's voice, which is used to convey meaning, emotions, and emphasis.

What are some factors that can affect stress in a word?

  1. The number of syllables in the word.

  2. The position of the word in a sentence.

  3. The grammatical category of the word.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress in a word can be affected by a combination of factors, including the number of syllables, the position of the word in a sentence, and the grammatical category of the word.

What are some factors that can affect intonation in speech?

  1. The speaker's emotions.

  2. The context of the conversation.

  3. The speaker's regional dialect.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Intonation in speech can be affected by a combination of factors, including the speaker's emotions, the context of the conversation, and the speaker's regional dialect.

How does stress contribute to the meaning of a word?

  1. It can distinguish between different words with the same spelling.

  2. It can indicate the grammatical function of a word.

  3. It can convey emotions or attitudes.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress can contribute to the meaning of a word in several ways. It can distinguish between different words with the same spelling, indicate the grammatical function of a word, and convey emotions or attitudes.

How does intonation contribute to the meaning of a sentence?

  1. It can indicate the speaker's attitude or emotions.

  2. It can signal the end of a sentence or a question.

  3. It can highlight important information.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Intonation can contribute to the meaning of a sentence in several ways. It can indicate the speaker's attitude or emotions, signal the end of a sentence or a question, and highlight important information.

What is the difference between primary stress and secondary stress?

  1. Primary stress is stronger than secondary stress.

  2. Primary stress occurs on the first syllable of a word, while secondary stress occurs on subsequent syllables.

  3. Primary stress is more common than secondary stress.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Primary stress is stronger than secondary stress, occurs on the first syllable of a word, and is more common than secondary stress.

What is the difference between rising intonation and falling intonation?

  1. Rising intonation indicates a question or surprise, while falling intonation indicates a statement or certainty.

  2. Rising intonation is more common than falling intonation.

  3. Falling intonation is used to convey emotions such as sadness or disappointment.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Rising intonation indicates a question or surprise, while falling intonation indicates a statement or certainty. Rising intonation is more common than falling intonation, and falling intonation is used to convey emotions such as sadness or disappointment.

How does stress and intonation interact to convey meaning in speech?

  1. Stress can highlight certain words or phrases, while intonation can convey the speaker's attitude or emotions.

  2. Stress can indicate the grammatical structure of a sentence, while intonation can signal the end of a sentence or a question.

  3. Stress can distinguish between different words with the same spelling, while intonation can convey emotions or attitudes.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress and intonation interact to convey meaning in speech in a variety of ways. Stress can highlight certain words or phrases, while intonation can convey the speaker's attitude or emotions. Stress can indicate the grammatical structure of a sentence, while intonation can signal the end of a sentence or a question. Stress can distinguish between different words with the same spelling, while intonation can convey emotions or attitudes.

What is the role of stress and intonation in understanding spoken language?

  1. They help listeners to distinguish between different words and phrases.

  2. They provide information about the speaker's emotions and attitudes.

  3. They help listeners to understand the grammatical structure of a sentence.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress and intonation play a crucial role in understanding spoken language. They help listeners to distinguish between different words and phrases, provide information about the speaker's emotions and attitudes, and help listeners to understand the grammatical structure of a sentence.

How can stress and intonation be used to convey different meanings in speech?

  1. By changing the stress pattern of a word, speakers can change its meaning.

  2. By changing the intonation pattern of a sentence, speakers can change its meaning.

  3. By combining different stress and intonation patterns, speakers can create a variety of different meanings.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress and intonation can be used to convey different meanings in speech in a variety of ways. By changing the stress pattern of a word, speakers can change its meaning. By changing the intonation pattern of a sentence, speakers can change its meaning. By combining different stress and intonation patterns, speakers can create a variety of different meanings.

How can stress and intonation be used to create emphasis in speech?

  1. By increasing the stress on a particular word or phrase.

  2. By using a rising intonation pattern.

  3. By using a falling intonation pattern.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Stress and intonation can be used to create emphasis in speech in a variety of ways. By increasing the stress on a particular word or phrase, speakers can make it stand out from the rest of the sentence. By using a rising intonation pattern, speakers can create a sense of anticipation or excitement. By using a falling intonation pattern, speakers can create a sense of finality or certainty.

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