Letter 221 Feb 28 1981
Dear A & H; L & E; Meg & Bob; Fred; Kathy; Ellen; David; Daniel,
(9) FALLACY OF ACCENT (Part 1) It is the fallacy resulting from misplaced emphasis upon a word, syllable or phrase, since every sentence changes its meaning when different words are accented.
Example 1: The statement: I hope you will come tonight. Forms of accented statement. (Capital letters indicate the words emphasized.) (1)
I hope you will come tonight. impression: I hope; others don’t share in the hope.
(2)
I hope YOU will come tonight. impression: just you and no one else.
(3)
I hope you WILL come tonight. impression: you are hesitating; I hope you will come.
(4)
I hope you will come TONIGHT. impression: not at any other time but tonight.
Example 2: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (1)
Thou shalt not bear FALSE WITNESS – against anyone.
(2)
Thou shalt not bear false witness against THY NEIGHBOR (but it is ok against anybody else).
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