Question

The effective control of stress, rhythm, and intonation in spoken English is crucial for enhancing which aspect of communication?

• A. Lexical Accuracy
• B. Grammatical Range
• C. Fluency and Naturalness
• D. Discourse Management

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Fluency and Naturalness

The effective control of stress, rhythm, and intonation — often referred to as prosodic features of speech — is essential for improving:

→ Fluency and Naturalness in communication

These features help:

• Convey meaning and emotion

• Mark sentence boundaries and emphasis

• Make speech sound more natural and easy to follow

Example:

Compare the sentence:

"I didn't say she stole the money."

Depending on intonation and stress, each word can be emphasized to imply a different meaning — something native speakers interpret effortlessly.