ding dong

I heard the first linguistic bells ring today. I was watching some old episodes of Seinfeld and Jerry had a problem not knowing if he's invited to some party so he asks Elaine to call the host and ask if he should bring anything with him to the party. So she does and then tells him that he said (are the pronouns confusing?): "Why would Jerry bring anything?". So Jerry asks her about emphasis: "Did he say: why would JERRY bring anything, or why would Jerry BRING anything?" Actually she replied: "I think he emphasized would" :) Is that even possible? :) I think he could've emphasised "anything".

So, this whole thing got me thinking about the effect of stress on meaning, which could either mean that I am a very dedicated researcher who can't resist linguistic thoughts even on the fifth day of vacation, or I only paid attention to this because I have been having an ear ache all day and spent the whole morning and afternoon watching TV until I went out in the evening for a coffee with my parents. I think I'll have to go to an ear doctor tomorrow.. hmm, wait a minute.. there is another word for 'ear doctor', right? What was it?.... ding dong :)

Mai