Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.
Synopsis
The chapter teaches that not every word in a sentence deserves equal weight: 'the average sentence' should be treated 'as just one big word, with the important word as the accented syllable,' just as one stresses the accented syllable of Massachusetts rather than every syllable alike. Using the sentence 'Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice,' the authors show how contrast identifies the words worth emphasizing, deducing the principle that emphasis is a matter of contrast and comparison. Words become emphatic chiefly by being delivered differently from their surroundings — louder, softer, slower, higher, or lower than the rest — not merely by increased volume, since loudness is not the same as emphasis; the real quality wanted is intensity and earnestness from within. New ideas, not repeated ones, generally carry emphasis, as newspapers give fresh news the prominent headline rather than repeating old facts. The chapter also shows how shifting emphasis among the same words changes meaning entirely, and notes there are no fixed rules — different speakers may legitimately emphasize a passage differently, guided by their own intelligent interpretation of the sense.
Key points
- Treat a sentence as 'one big word' — emphasize only its 'mountain peak' words, not every word equally.
- Emphasis is fundamentally a matter of contrast and comparison.
- Words become emphatic by being delivered differently from surrounding words — not merely by loudness.
- New ideas generally receive emphasis; repeated old facts do not, unless deliberate stress is intended.
- There are no fixed rules of emphasis; intelligent interpretation of meaning must guide the speaker.
Key texts
- Matthew 13:9
- Luke 8:8
- Proverbs 25:11
- 1 Corinthians 14:8-9
From the book
Chapter III — Efficiency Through Emphasis and Subordination · Open the reader
- “In almost every sentence there are a few _MOUNTAIN PEAK WORDS_ that represent the big, important ideas.”
- “_EMPHASIS_ is a matter of _CONTRAST_ and _COMPARISON_.”
- “Let us not confound loudness with emphasis. To yell is not a sign of earnestness, intelligence, or feeling.”
Put it into practice
- Before speaking, mark the 'mountain peak' words in your sentence and plan to emphasize only those.
- Vary delivery (pitch, pace, volume) on the emphatic word rather than relying only on loudness.
- Watch for new ideas in your material and let them, rather than repeated facts, carry your emphasis.
- Comprehension
1. What image does the chapter use to explain how emphasis works across a sentence?
- Comprehension
2. What principle do the authors deduce from the 'Destiny...chance...choice' example?
- Doctrinal Clarity
3. How does the chapter say a word is made emphatic?
- Doctrinal Clarity
4. Why does the chapter reject equating loudness with emphasis?
- Scripture
5. What analogy from journalism explains why new ideas are usually emphatic?
- Contrast
6. Contrast the sentence 'IT IS A MATTER OF CHOICE' (over-emphasized) with the properly emphasized version.
- Scripture
7. How does shifting emphasis change meaning in 'I intended to buy a house this Spring'?
- Doctrinal Clarity
8. Does the chapter give fixed, unbreakable rules for what to emphasize?
- Application
9. Think of a Bible verse you often read aloud. Which words are its 'mountain peaks,' and how would emphasizing them change the hearer's understanding?
- Application
10. Where in your own speech do you tend to over-emphasize everything, flattening your message? What one change could you make?