What is it called when sounds or words are stressed in speech?

The phenomenon of stressing sounds or words in speech is called accent, stress, or emphasis.

Here's a breakdown:

* Accent refers to the prominence given to a syllable in a word, often through increased volume, pitch, or duration. It can also refer to a distinctive way of speaking, often associated with a specific region or social group.

* Stress is the emphasis placed on a syllable or word in a phrase or sentence, often to highlight its importance or meaning.

* Emphasis is similar to stress, but it can also involve other nonverbal cues like facial expressions or body language.

All three terms are related and often used interchangeably, but stress is the most accurate term for the specific act of emphasizing sounds or words in speech.