The accent fallacy is when a sentence can be interpreted in two ways depending on the emphasis of a specific word. It is an ambiguity fallacy that can occur in speech and writing, leading to false assumptions. It can be avoided by emphasizing specific words or using italics in writing.
An accent fallacy occurs when the meaning of a sentence can be assumed in two different ways depending on whether a specific word is being emphasised. Appearing frequently in speech, the accent fallacy can also be clearly seen in written works. This fallacy is called stress because Aristotle’s original definition included only those sentences with varying stress on a specific word. Modern definitions, however, include accents on whole words or groups of words.
The accent fallacy falls into the category of ambiguity fallacies. Ambiguity leads to false assumptions about the statement being made. The reader or listener is often led to believe that the original statement actually meant the opposite of what he intended it to mean.
Sometimes said to be strictly a speech phenomenon, the error also occurs in writing or when speech is reprinted. For example, a sign that advertises a free product in large, bold letters but has in smaller letters that the free product is only available with a $20 purchase is an example of an accent error. One group of words is heavily emphasized over another, leading the reader to an inaccurate belief.
Often a spoken comment is printed or repeated without the desired emphasis, leading to misinterpreted statements. For example, if someone asks another “did you like the lady’s dance?” the questioned person could answer: “I like dancers with skill”. Without any clear emphasis, this statement can be taken as a yes. The interviewee enjoyed dancing. If, however, the speaker emphasizes the word skill, “I like dancers with skill,” the answer ends up being negative.
The error can also take a sentence out of context. For example, saying “Were you on time for work Tuesday” in response to the question “Were you on time Tuesday?” may have no bearing on whether “you” are normally on time for work. If, however, stress is placed on the word “Tuesday” or the question relating to the specific day is omitted, a reader or listener may conclude that the “she” in the sentence is not usually punctual.
In writing, the accent fallacy can be avoided or implemented by placing specific words in bold or italics to change or clarify the meaning of the sentence. Alternatively, leaving words that should be emphasized unemphasized also leads to this error. In speech, intentionally or unintentionally repeating statements with different emphasis can lead to the accent fallacy.
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