L2 Phonetics

I've just started marking your phonetics scripts. Here is the answer to the last question.

What is the difference between

a) Michael will be waiting for them at the airport HOPEfully.

AND

b) Michael will be waiting for them at the AIRport hopefully.


In the first sentence, the adverb does not apply to the whole sentence. The adverb received the nucleus because it is the last lexical word of the sentence. That is to say the adverb relates to the verb. Michael, while he waits, will be full of hope.


In the second sentence, "hopefully" does not receive the nucleus. This shows that the adverb refers to the whole of the sentence - it is the speaker, and not Michael, who is feeling hopeful.

More soon.