The form and auditory control of downward trends in intonation
Of all the areas of intonational research, study of the tendency of the frequency of vocal fold vibration to decline during the course of an utterance - F0 declination - is likely initially to be the most fruitful in determining the interaction between perceptual and productive processes. A general introduction to the phenomenon is augmented by analysis of different methods of determining declination lines; theoretical treatments are then introduced. One particular local factor contributing to the downward trend, downstep, is discussed, and its pivotal role in the intonational phonology developed by Janet Pierrehumbert critically examined. In the light of the theoretical discussion, two competing hypotheses are presented as to the mediation of the declination effect, which is the effect that of two accented syllables in an utterance, the second has to have a lower peak F0 value than the first for them to be judged to have equal prominence. The Global Declination Hypothesis attributes this to the use by speakers and hearers of one or two abstract reference lines declining through the course of a tone-unit. The Local Declination Hypothesis attributes it to the disposition of F0 excursions surrounding the two
Johnson, Michael Edward
Phonology
The form and auditory control of downward trends in intonation. Of all the areas of intonational research, study of the tendency of the frequency of vocal fold vibration to decline during the course of an utterance - F0 declination - is likely initially to be the most fruitful in determining the interaction between perceptual and productive processes. A general introduction to the phenomenon is augmented by analysis of different methods of determining declination lines; theoretical treatments are then introduced. One particular local factor contributing to the downward trend, downstep, is discussed, and its pivotal role in the intonational phonology developed by Janet Pierrehumbert critically examined. In the light of the theoretical discussion, two competing hypotheses are presented as to the mediation of the declination effect, which is the effect that of two accented syllables in an utterance, the second has to have a lower peak F0 value than the first for them to be judged to have equal prominence. The Global Declination Hypothesis attributes this to the use by speakers and hearers of one or two abstract reference lines declining through the course of a tone-unit. The Local Declination Hypothesis attributes it to the disposition of F0 excursions surrounding the two
form auditory control downward trend intonation area intonational study tendency frequency vocal fold decline course utterance likely initially fruitful determine interaction perceptual productive process general_introduction phenomenon augment analysis different_method determine line theoretical treatment introduce one_particular local factor_contribute downward trend discuss pivotal_role intonational phonology develop critically_examine light theoretical_discussion two_compete hypothesis present mediation effect effect accent syllable utterance second low peak value first judge equal prominence global hypothesis attribute use speaker_hearer abstract reference line decline course tone unit local hypothesis attribute disposition surround