German pronunciation practice: placing spoken focus on the new answer

The idea

In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.

A controlled speaking comparison

Keep a single focus for one attempt: wer/LINA; wann/NEUN; wo/EMPFANG. Read a complete sentence, compare it with a dictionary or a suitable spoken model, and change one feature at a time. Device speech is synthetic and varies by browser. It may not produce the exact contrastive stress you intend; for such contrasts, speak the marked focus yourself or work with a listener.

Examples

• Wer öffnet heute? – LINA öffnet heute.Who opens today? Lina opens today.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.
• Wann beginnt der Kurs? – Er beginnt um NEUN.When does the course start? It starts at nine.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.
• Wo liegt die Liste? – Sie liegt am EMPFANG.Where is the list? It is at reception.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.
• Was fehlt noch? – Uns fehlt ein ADAPTER.What is still missing? We are missing an adapter.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.
• Wem gehört die Tasche? – Sie gehört meinem BRUDER.Whose bag is it? It belongs to my brother.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.
• Wie kommen wir hin? – Wir fahren mit dem BUS.How do we get there? We go by bus.Target in context: placing spoken focus on the new answer. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.

Watch out

An accent exercise without a question or contrast can become arbitrary; keep the intended information need visible.

Try it yourself

1. Markiere die Zielstelle in diesen Wörtern und lies anschließend den vollständigen Beispielsatz: wer/LINA; wann/NEUN; wo/EMPFANG.

   Show answer or example answer

   Zielwörter: wer/LINA; wann/NEUN; wo/EMPFANG. Beachte dazu: Im Frage-Antwort-Zusammenhang sollte die neu erfragte Information hervortreten. Der geschriebene Satz kann gleich bleiben, während sein Sprechfokus auf wer, wo oder wann antwortet. Nenne vor der Übung die Frage, damit der Akzent einen Zusammenhang hat.

   The target set is wer/LINA; wann/NEUN; wo/EMPFANG. In a question-and-answer context, make the newly requested information prominent. The neutral written sentence may be unchanged, but its spoken focus can answer who, where or when. State the question before practising so the intended focus has a reason.

2. Erkläre die hier geübte Aussprache einem Lernpartner. Nenne ein Beispiel und eine Grenze der Regel.

   Show answer or example answer

   Im Frage-Antwort-Zusammenhang sollte die neu erfragte Information hervortreten. Der geschriebene Satz kann gleich bleiben, während sein Sprechfokus auf wer, wo oder wann antwortet. Nenne vor der Übung die Frage, damit der Akzent einen Zusammenhang hat. Ohne Frage oder Gegensatz kann eine Akzentübung beliebig werden; behalte den Informationsbedarf im Blick.

   An accent exercise without a question or contrast can become arbitrary; keep the intended information need visible. A useful explanation includes the selected pattern and its context rather than a rule about every German word.

3. Sprich zwei eigene Sätze mit den Zielwörtern. Vergleiche zunächst langsam, danach in einem verständlichen normalen Tempo.

   Show answer or example answer

   Mögliche Satzmuster: Wer öffnet heute? – LINA öffnet heute. Wann beginnt der Kurs? – Er beginnt um NEUN. Achte auf Verständlichkeit und das konkrete Ziel, nicht auf möglichst hohes Tempo.

   Many original sentences are possible. The intended word and message should remain recognizable. Use a relevant spoken model and listener feedback; the page does not automatically assess the recording.

Use it today

Take “Wer öffnet heute? – LINA öffnet heute.” and “Wann beginnt der Kurs? – Er beginnt um NEUN.” and change one detail in each while keeping the focus on wer/LINA; wann/NEUN; wo/EMPFANG. Say each slowly and then at a comfortable conversational pace. Ask a listener what they understood. If you record yourself in your own recording app, compare a specific feature rather than judging your entire accent at once.