Information structure and the prosodic structure of English : a probabilistic relationship
This work concerns how information structure is signalled prosodically in English, that is, how prosodic prominence and phrasing are used to indicate the salience and organisation of information in relation to a discourse model. It has been standardly held that information structure is primarily signalled by the distribution of pitch accents within syntax structure, as well as intonation event type. However, we argue that these claims underestimate the importance, and richness, of metrical prosodic structure and its role in signalling information structure. We advance a new theory, that information structure is a strong constraint on the mapping of words onto metrical prosodic structure. We show that focus (kontrast) aligns with nuclear prominence, while other accents are not usually directly 'meaningful'. Information units (theme/rheme) try to align with prosodic phrases. This mapping is probabilistic, so it is also influenced by lexical and syntactic effects, as well as rhythmical constraints and other features including emphasis. Rather than being directly signalled by the prosody, the likelihood of each information structure interpretation is mediated by all these properties. We demonstrate that this theory
Calhoun, Sasha
Prosodic analysis (Linguistics) ; English language ; Intonation ; Linguistics
Information structure and the prosodic structure of English : a probabilistic relationship. This work concerns how information structure is signalled prosodically in English, that is, how prosodic prominence and phrasing are used to indicate the salience and organisation of information in relation to a discourse model. It has been standardly held that information structure is primarily signalled by the distribution of pitch accents within syntax structure, as well as intonation event type. However, we argue that these claims underestimate the importance, and richness, of metrical prosodic structure and its role in signalling information structure. We advance a new theory, that information structure is a strong constraint on the mapping of words onto metrical prosodic structure. We show that focus (kontrast) aligns with nuclear prominence, while other accents are not usually directly 'meaningful'. Information units (theme/rheme) try to align with prosodic phrases. This mapping is probabilistic, so it is also influenced by lexical and syntactic effects, as well as rhythmical constraints and other features including emphasis. Rather than being directly signalled by the prosody, the likelihood of each information structure interpretation is mediated by all these properties. We demonstrate that this theory
information_structure prosodic_structure english probabilistic relationship work concern information_structure signal english prosodic_prominence use indicate salience organisation information relation discourse model standardly hold information_structure primarily signal distribution pitch_accent within syntax structure well intonation event type however_argue claim underestimate importance richness metrical prosodic_structure role signal information_structure advance new theory information_structure strong constraint mapping word onto metrical prosodic_structure show focus align nuclear prominence accent usually directly meaningful information unit theme_rheme try align prosodic phrase map probabilistic also influence_lexical syntactic effect well constraint feature include emphasis rather directly signal prosody likelihood information_structure interpretation mediate property theory