Sorry for jumping in like this, but there's something about this concept that I've actually been wondering about, and the image attached is the perfect segue!
Okay, so, you know how you can change the meaning of a sentence by emphasizing a different word, as shown in the OG post? My question is, what happens when you do this with a question rather than a statement? Particularly with a question containing the question words. Who, what, when, where, why, and how?
Take the question, "Who are you?"
Who are you?
Emphasizing the "you" highlights the fact that the subject is perceived, but their presence in the speaker vicinity is being questioned. Kind of like saying "You don't belong here."
Who are you?
Emphasizing the "are" takes that a step further. It highlights a change in the subject's very existence. It's a request for more information about the subject, as whatever information the speaker had prior does not suffice. Whether that be because the subject is only just meeting the speaker and wants to get to know them, or if the subject has somehow changed since the speaker last saw them, and now the speaker is playing catch-up.
Who are you?
But what does empathizing the "who" imply? The prior empahsises were tools the speaker was using to essentially quantify the subject's existence and understand it.Β
But wouldn't empahsizing the "why" imply that this CAN'T be done?Β The subject's presence is acknowledged and accepted, but the speaker is unable to comprehend them. The subject's existence is acknowledged and accepted, but the speaker is simply unable to comprehend them. The speaker is left only with the question of "Who?"Β
Like a two dimensional being suddenly perceiving the third dimension and stumbling across a denizen of that third dimension. Their understanding of the world remains that of one who lives in the 2nd dimension, and are left with no way to even try to quantify the creature they now see before them. They are left only with the question "Who?"
Like, am I overthinking this? Ma and I genuinely talked about this for like, and HOUR, and we still struggled to understand what emphasizing "who" truly implies. I LOVE adding italicization for empahsis to my fanfics, so if anyone knows/is an English major, could you send this to them, because I really want to know.
