accent: [14] Accent was originally a loantranslation from Greek into Latin (a loantranslation is when each constituent of a compound in one language is translated into its equivalent in another, and then reassembled into a new compound). Greek prosōidíā (whence English prosody) was formed from pros ‘to’ and ōidé ‘song’ (whence English ode); these elements were translated into Latin ad ‘to’ and cantus ‘song’ (whence English chant, cant, cantata, canticle), giving accentus.
The notion underlying this combination of ‘to’ and ‘song’ was of a song added to speech – that is, the intonation of spoken language. The sense of a particular mode of pronunciation did not arise in English until the 16th century. => cant, cantata, canticle, chant
accent (n.)
late 14c., "particular mode of pronunciation," from Middle French accent, from Old French acent (13c.), from Latin accentus "song added to speech," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + cantus "a singing," past participle of canere "to sing" (see chant (v.)). Loan-translation of Greek prosoidia, from pros- "to" + oide "song," which apparently described the pitch scheme in Greek verse. The decorating sense of "something that emphasizes or highlights" is from 1972.
accent (v.)
"to pronounce with accent or stress," 1520s, from Middle French accenter, from Old French acenter, from acent (see accent (n.)). Related: Accented; accenting.
权威例句
1. Accentuate the word " accent " on the first syllable.
在 “ accent ” 一词的第一个音节上加重音符号.
2. There is often a strong accent on material success.
经常大力强调物质成就。
3. Her Irish accent, after thirty-odd years in London, is undiluted.
她在伦敦呆了30多年,爱尔兰口音仍很浓重。
4. Brand's keen ear caught the trace of an accent.
布兰德敏锐的耳朵听出了口音。
5. Joe had a low, guttural voice with a mid-Western accent.
乔说话声音低沉粗嘎,带着中西部地区的腔调。
词语辨析
【tone, dialect, accent】
这三个名词意思相近,容易混淆。
tone: n.语气,音调,指说话人的口气或声音的高低、轻重等。
• He speaks to his baby in soft tones. 他用柔和的语调和他的婴儿说话。
dialect: n.方言,土语,地方话,指一个地区人们所使用的语言。
• the Yorkshire dialect 约克郡方言the Sichuan dialect四川方言
accent: n.口音,指某一地区语言的发音特征;重音。
• He speaks English with a Spanish accent. 他讲英语带有西班牙口音。