What is an accent in speech?

An accent in speech refers to the way particular phonetic sounds and speech patterns are produced based on the speaker's linguistic background. When one talks about putting stress on a word or phrase, it captures an essential aspect of how accents function. Stress can alter the perceived rhythm, melody, and overall tonality of one's speech, thus making it characteristic of a specific regional or cultural background.

In essence, the pronunciation and emphasis on certain syllables or words contribute to how a speaker is perceived. For example, the difference in stress patterns between various dialects or accents can lead to distinctions that help identify a speaker’s origins or influence from different language families.

The other choices provided, while related to aspects of speech and communication, do not accurately capture the essence of what constitutes an accent. Changing voice volume relates more to intonation and expression and does not define accent. Using a different language describes linguistic variance rather than the nuances of accent in a single language. Writing with different handwriting pertains entirely to the visual aspect of language and has no relevance to speech accents.