PsychologyJuly 23, 2026

prosody

/ˈprɒsədi/

Definition

The patterns of stress, rhythm, and intonation in spoken language that convey meaning, emotion, or emphasis beyond the literal words used.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'prosōidia', meaning 'song sung to music' or 'modulation of the voice', combining 'pros' (in addition to) and 'ōidē' (song).

In the news

In the article, prosody refers to the musical and rhythmic variations in speech patterns used when communicating with pets. It matters because researchers track these vocal qualities to understand how animals respond to human intent.

Science says people who talk to their pets like they're human share these 7 psychological strengths

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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