Research is reported in a framework linking phonetic exponents to communicative functions. From the heterogeneous field of ‘emphasis’, two areas are selected: ‘positive/negative expressive intensification’ of verbal meaning, e.g. it’s delicious! vs it stinks! German data are collected in controlled monologues and dialogues. On the hypothesis that ‘positive emphasis’ strengthens sonority, ‘negative emphasis’ weakens it, aspects of f0, acoustic energy, duration, voice quality are tested statistically.