Final answer:
The emphasis when pronouncing the word 'lobotomy' is placed on the second syllable. Correct stress is key in English pronunciation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word lobotomy is a medical term, and when pronounced, the emphasis is placed on the second syllable. Thus, it is pronounced as lo-BOT-omy. In phonetic terms, this emphasis on a particular syllable is known as stress. In English, stress is crucial for proper pronunciation as it can alter the meaning of words and aid in distinguishing between nouns and verbs that share the same spelling.