OCG533, Fall 2002
Homework assignment 10, due 4 October
Hierarchies of pairs and emphases
To read: Chapter 7, “The two-part principle.” (Short)
To think about. This chapter deals with the hierarchical two-part arrangement of sentences that starts with individual words and works it way up to the entire sentence (usually subject and predicate, but often independent clause and clausal modifier). In class we will add the principle of stressing the end member of each pair, sometimes called “end-weight” or the closely related “end-focus.” This important principle shows how people interpret sentences, including yours. Understanding this can help you place your emphasized material in the appropriate places.
To do. Here are two scientific sentences. Diagram each down to individual words, and then indicate where the stress falls within each hierarchical pair of elements. If you wish, you may comment on the overall pattern of stress within the sentence.
1. Some of the questions surrounding the new skull might be answered by early next year.
2. Swedish researchers announced that the compound was present in high levels in starchy foods.