INTONATIONINTONATION

Chapters 15 & 16Chapters 15 & 16

Suprasegmental Suprasegmental phonologyphonology

StressStress : applied to units larger than : applied to units larger than phonemes (segmental phonology), phonemes (segmental phonology), i.e. syllablesi.e. syllables

IntonationIntonation : pitch of voice plays an : pitch of voice plays an important part; it is constantly important part; it is constantly changing during speech; analysing changing during speech; analysing intonation refers to listening to the intonation refers to listening to the speaker´s pitch and recognising speaker´s pitch and recognising what it is doingwhat it is doing

PitcPitchh

Defined in terms of Defined in terms of highhigh and and low low (arbitrary choices for end-points (arbitrary choices for end-points of the pitch scale)of the pitch scale)

Auditory sensation experienced Auditory sensation experienced by the hearerby the hearer

We are not interested in all We are not interested in all aspects of a speaker´s pitch, but aspects of a speaker´s pitch, but in those that carry some linguistic in those that carry some linguistic informationinformation

Speakers have control over their Speakers have control over their own pitch of voice, and the own pitch of voice, and the possibility of choice (this may possibility of choice (this may have linguistic significance)have linguistic significance)

Fundamental frequency of Fundamental frequency of voiced soundsvoiced sounds (should not be (should not be

called “pitch”)called “pitch”) The rate of vibration of the vocal The rate of vibration of the vocal

folds, physically measureable and folds, physically measureable and related to speaker´s activityrelated to speaker´s activity

The distinction must be made The distinction must be made between the twobetween the two

As long as the distinction is made it is As long as the distinction is made it is of minor importance if we informally of minor importance if we informally use the same term (“pitch”) for both use the same term (“pitch”) for both

Necessary conditions for Necessary conditions for pitch differences to be pitch differences to be linguistically relevantlinguistically relevant

Being Being under speaker´s controlunder speaker´s control Pitch differences must be Pitch differences must be

perceptible perceptible (great enough to be (great enough to be heard by a listener as differences in heard by a listener as differences in pitch)pitch)

Significance in linguistics lies in Significance in linguistics lies in contrasts (a set of items a unit contrasts (a set of items a unit contrasts with)contrasts with)

FormForm and and functionfunction of of intonationintonation

In the shortest piece of speech – single In the shortest piece of speech – single syllablesyllable

A continuous piece of speech beginning A continuous piece of speech beginning and ending with a pause – and ending with a pause – utteranceutterance

One syllable utterances like “yes” and One syllable utterances like “yes” and “no”“no”

Even in one syllable words we can Even in one syllable words we can either remain at a constant pitch level either remain at a constant pitch level or change itor change it

ToneTone Is the term used for the overall Is the term used for the overall

behaviour of the pitchbehaviour of the pitch It can be It can be levellevel or or movingmoving The latter are more commonThe latter are more common Level tone does not sound Level tone does not sound

naturalnatural When saying yes or no in a final When saying yes or no in a final

manner, falling tone is usually manner, falling tone is usually usedused

For questioning manner rising For questioning manner rising tone is used (now we are already tone is used (now we are already talking about function)talking about function)

Tone and tone languagesTone and tone languages Tone is marked before the syllable: Tone is marked before the syllable:

level level _yes_yes

falling falling yes yes

risingrising yes yes

In this way we can also mark the high tone In this way we can also mark the high tone level and low tone levellevel and low tone level

The case for some other languages is The case for some other languages is different:different:

In these the tone can determine on the In these the tone can determine on the meaning of the word in question, in meaning of the word in question, in Croatian as wellCroatian as well

Speech may be divided into tone Speech may be divided into tone units.units.

Each tone unit is composed of:Each tone unit is composed of: A tonic syllable (obligatory)A tonic syllable (obligatory) Optional elements which precede Optional elements which precede

the tonic syllable (pre-head, head)the tonic syllable (pre-head, head) Optional elements which follow the Optional elements which follow the

tonic syllable (tailtonic syllable (tail))

In synthesis:In synthesis:

(pre-head) (pre-head) (head) tonic syllable (head) tonic syllable (tail)(tail)

Complex tones and pitch Complex tones and pitch heightheight

Each of these may express particular Each of these may express particular attitudesattitudes::

FallFall: neutral statement: neutral statement RiseRise: neutral question, doubt: neutral question, doubt Fall-RiseFall-Rise: scepticism: scepticism Rise-FallRise-Fall: emphatic statement: emphatic statement LevelLevel: boredom, disinterest: boredom, disinterestIn ordinary speech intonation tends to take In ordinary speech intonation tends to take

place within the lower part of the speaker´s place within the lower part of the speaker´s pitch range. Only with strong feelings we use pitch range. Only with strong feelings we use extra pitch height.extra pitch height.

FallFall: neutral statement, conclusion: neutral statement, conclusion

E.g. Have you E.g. Have you seen Ann?seen Ann?

Yes. (Falling Yes. (Falling intonation intonation indicatesindicates

‘ ‘I have I have answered your answered your question and do question and do not intend to not intend to add anything add anything else’)else’)

RiseRise: questioning, doubt, desire to : questioning, doubt, desire to continue conversationcontinue conversation

E.g. Have you E.g. Have you seen Ann seen Ann lately?lately?

Yes… (Rising Yes… (Rising intonation intonation indicates ‘I indicates ‘I want to want to continue the continue the conversation, I conversation, I am curious’)am curious’)

Rise-FallRise-Fall: emphatic statement, irritation, : emphatic statement, irritation, commandcommand

Do I really Do I really have to clean have to clean my room?my room?

Yes!Yes!

Fall-RiseFall-Rise: surprise, scepticism: surprise, scepticism

Ann and Ann and Peter were Peter were on good on good terms at the terms at the party?party?

Yes!Yes!

LevelLevel: boredom, lack of : boredom, lack of interestinterest

Can you Can you remember remember Peter Jackson, Peter Jackson, the cost the cost consultant for consultant for our company in our company in Taiwan? The Taiwan? The other day in the other day in the office I invited office I invited him for dinner, him for dinner, he’ll be coming he’ll be coming tomorrow. tomorrow.

Yes.Yes.

We shall begin by considering the We shall begin by considering the fall:fall:

here is a tone unit solely composed here is a tone unit solely composed of a tonic syllableof a tonic syllable

Things become more complicated when Things become more complicated when we add syllableswe add syllables

In this case there are no stressed In this case there are no stressed syllables before the tonic: ‘I said’ syllables before the tonic: ‘I said’

is the is the pre-headpre-head

Here we have added a stressed syllable, Here we have added a stressed syllable, ‘told’, before the tonic, which is called ‘told’, before the tonic, which is called the the headhead. Notice how the intonation . Notice how the intonation

rises from the pre-headrises from the pre-head

Here we have added syllables after the Here we have added syllables after the tonic, this is called the tonic, this is called the tailtail. Note how it . Note how it tends to follow the intonation pattern of tends to follow the intonation pattern of

the tonic.the tonic.

This is obviously not the only possible This is obviously not the only possible realisation of this sentence. If we put realisation of this sentence. If we put

the main stress on ‘told’, it changes the the main stress on ‘told’, it changes the pattern completelypattern completely

In a similar way a rising tonic syllable In a similar way a rising tonic syllable will condition its tail: here ‘when’ is the will condition its tail: here ‘when’ is the

tonic syllabletonic syllable

Again when we come to complex tone Again when we come to complex tone we find the tail following the tonic we find the tail following the tonic

syllable: for a fall-rise the fall occurs syllable: for a fall-rise the fall occurs on the tonic and the rise at the end of on the tonic and the rise at the end of

the tailthe tail

No matter how many syllables No matter how many syllables there are in the tail, the rise there are in the tail, the rise

finishes on the lastfinishes on the last

While diagrams are immediate and While diagrams are immediate and clear, a more practical system of clear, a more practical system of symbols has been developed to symbols has been developed to

denote innotationdenote innotation

Stressed syllables in the head are Stressed syllables in the head are noted with a vertical ticknoted with a vertical tick

I want to I want to ´́go to the go to the ´́dentistdentist´́s.s.

Stressed syllables in the tail are Stressed syllables in the tail are noted with a dotnoted with a dot

I want to I want to ´́go to the go to the ´́dentists dentists to.morrow .morningto.morrow .morning

A vertical bar divides tone unitsA vertical bar divides tone units

I want to I want to ´́go to the go to the ´́dentists dentists toto..morrow morrow ..morning Ive got a morning Ive got a terribleterrible toothachetoothache