McGuffey's Fifth Eclectic Reader, Revised Edition · Lesson Elocution · Part 1: Principles of elocution
4. Principles of Elocution: accent and emphasis optional
Goal: Your child knows the difference between accent (stress on a syllable) and emphasis (stress on a word), and shows how emphasis changes meaning.
You'll need
- The book, open to these pages
- A notebook and pencil
What's in the book
IV. Accent, with words whose accent changes with their meaning, and V. Emphasis, with examples and a question answered four ways.
The lesson, step by step
Accent
Read what the book says: in every word of more than one syllable, one syllable is spoken with greater stress. Say a few of its examples, clapping on the accented syllable: lovely, member, window, return, remember.
Accent can change the word
The book lists words whose meaning changes with the accent. Try PRES-ent (a gift) and pre-SENT (to give), AU-gust (the month) and au-GUST (grand).
SayCan you think of another word like that? (Record and re-CORD is one.)
Emphasis
Read the definition:
A word is said to be emphasized when it is uttered with a greater stress of voice than the other words with which it is connected
Try the examples, stressing the contrasted parts:
There is a difference between giving and forgiving.
What is done, can not be undone.
Notice that emphasis can even move the accent, as in forGIVing.
One question, four answers
The book asks:
Did you walk into the city yesterday?
It gives four answers. Read each one and ask your child which word in the question should be stressed to fit it:
No, my brother went.
No, I rode.
No, I went into the country.
No, I went the day before.
Your turn
Have your child say "I didn't take your pencil" five times, stressing a different word each time, and tell what each version means.
Wrap up
SayWhat is the difference between accent and emphasis?
Afterwards
When reading later lessons, stop once or twice to ask which word deserves the emphasis.