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.
emphasis
The special highlighting or underlining of the importance of a particular aspect, topic, or quality.
Der Chef legte besondere Betonung auf Pünktlichkeit.
The boss placed special emphasis on punctuality.
'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 refers to the area that is central in terms of content. Betonung, by contrast, deliberately highlights that a particular aspect is important. A topic can therefore be the Schwerpunkt of a concept and also receive special Betonung through repeated mention.
Durch die wiederholte Nennung erhält die Sicherheit der Fahrgäste im neuen Konzept besondere Betonung.
The repeated mention gives passenger safety special emphasis in the new concept.
Der Schwerpunkt des neuen Konzepts liegt auf der Sicherheit der Fahrgäste.
The focus of the new concept is passenger safety.
