Emphasis consists in uttering a word or phrase in such a manner as to give
it force and energy, and to draw the attention of the hearer particularly
to the idea expressed.
This is most frequently accomplished by an increased stress of voice laid
upon the word or phrase. Sometimes, though more rarely, the same object is
effected by an unusual lowering of the voice, even to a whisper, and not
unfrequently by a pause before the emphatic word.
The inflections are often made subsidiary to this object. To give emphasis
to a word, the inflection is changed or increased in force or extent. When
the rising inflection is ordinarily used, the word, when emphatic,
frequently takes the falling inflection; and sometimes, also, the falling
inflection is changed into the rising inflection, for the same purpose.
Emphatic words are often denoted by being written in italics, in SMALL
CAPITALS, or in CAPITALS.
Much care is necessary to train the pupil to give clear and expressive
emphasis, and at the same time to avoid an unpleasant "jerky" movement of
the voice.