Sound test (linguistics)

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In linguistics, sound samples are used to check possible interpretations of written sentences or texts . You read a written text with different accents, each of which leads to its own interpretation. The following short sentence takes on a different meaning each time the emphasis is changed:

  • The boy is sick. (= A certain boy who is pointed out, and not another.)
  • The boy is sick. (= And not about a girl who was also mentioned.)
  • The boy is sick. (= He is definitely sick.)
  • The boy is sick. (= He is sick and not just sleepy.)

In this way one can systematically play through possible interpretations and try to find out which one may have been intended or which one prefers for a certain reason.

literature

  • Theodor Lewandowski: Linguistic Dictionary 2 . 4th, revised edition. Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg / Wiesbaden 1985, pp. 516f. ISBN 3-494-02021-3

Web links

Wiktionary: Sound sample  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations