Here's how it works:
* Intonation: This refers to the rise and fall of your voice as you speak. You might stress a word by raising your voice at the end of it, or by lowering it significantly.
* Volume: Speaking louder makes a word stand out.
* Pause: A brief pause before or after a stressed word draws attention to it.
* Word choice: Certain words carry inherent weight, like "never" or "always," and are often stressed automatically.
Example:
* "I didn't eat the last cookie." (The speaker is emphasizing that they *did not* eat the cookie, perhaps implying that someone else did.)
* "I ate your cookie." (The speaker is emphasizing the ownership of the cookie, suggesting that they were not supposed to eat it.)
Note: Stress can also be indicated in written text by using boldface, *italics*, or underlining.