áherslur

Áhersla (plural áherslur) is an Icelandic noun meaning emphasis or stress. It covers both the way something is pronounced (prosodic emphasis) and the way something is highlighted in writing or speech (typographic or rhetorical emphasis). The term is used in linguistics, rhetoric, education, journalism and everyday language.

In linguistics, áhersla refers to which part of a sentence carries prominence or focus. In Icelandic, the primary lexical stress of a word typically falls on the first syllable, while emphasis in connected speech can shift with intonation to highlight particular information or contrast. Áhersla can therefore indicate focus, contrast, agreement, or new information for the listener.

In written text, áherslur are expressed through typographic or editorial means such as bold or italics, and sometimes through punctuation or capitalization to foreground important points. The concept is common in editing, teaching and media as a way to guide the reader’s attention and convey emphasis beyond ordinary word order.

Etymology-wise, áhersla is formed with the prefix á- and the noun hersla, which conveys pressing or pressing upon, yielding the abstract sense of placing emphasis or stress on something.

Thus, áherslur describes how attention, importance or contrast is brought to specific words or parts of a discourse, whether through speech, writing or formatting. Related ideas include emphasis, prosody and focus in linguistic analysis.