stress / emphasis
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stress
The highlighting of a syllable in a word or of a word in a sentence through a stronger or higher voice.
Im Wort 'Banane' liegt die Betonung auf der zweiten Silbe.
In the word 'banana', the stress is on the second syllable.
'Die Betonung' (stress/emphasis) comes from the verb 'betonen' (to stress/emphasize). This is made up of 'be-' and 'der Ton' (tone/sound). To emphasize something therefore literally means to 'put a tone on it'.
Der Redner betonte jedes Wort sehr deutlich.
The speaker emphasized every word very clearly.
To express which syllable or word is stressed, you use the fixed expression 'die Betonung liegt auf' (the stress is on), followed by a dative.
Bei dem Wort „Auto“ liegt die Betonung auf der ersten Silbe.
In the word 'Auto', the stress is on the first syllable.
In the figurative sense, you use the expression 'Betonung auf etwas legen' (to place emphasis on something) to highlight the importance of an aspect. The 'etwas' is in the accusative.
In ihrer Präsentation legte sie die Betonung auf die Kosteneinsparungen.
In her presentation, she placed the emphasis on cost savings.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if it is about language, pronunciation, syllables, or words, the literal meaning is intended. If it is about topics, aspects, or qualities, the figurative meaning is intended.
Die falsche Betonung kann die Bedeutung eines Satzes verändern.
The wrong stress can change the meaning of a sentence.
focus / center of gravity
'der Schwerpunkt' and 'die Betonung' can both show that something is especially important. 'der Schwerpunkt' is the central area or main topic of something. 'die Betonung' more often means that you especially highlight the importance of one aspect. The words can be confused because both have to do with importance. The difference is: a 'Schwerpunkt' is the content you mainly concentrate on. A 'Betonung' is the way you make something especially clear.
Die Lehrerin legt heute besondere Betonung auf saubere Aussprache.
Today the teacher is placing special emphasis on clear pronunciation.
In der Projektwoche ist Umwelt der Schwerpunkt.
During project week, the environment is the focus.