Suprasegmental features and Prosody Lect 6A&B LING1005/6105

Prosody An informal definition: The ‘music’ of a language, its characteristic ‘melody’ and ‘rhythm’. An informal definition: The ‘music’ of a language, its characteristic ‘melody’ and ‘rhythm’. A more formal definition: The system of prosodic contrasts that a language employs. A more formal definition: The system of prosodic contrasts that a language employs. Supra-segmental features: Phonetic features that span more than a single speech segment. Features that span a whole syllable or are only apparent when one syllable is compared with others in its neighbourhood. Supra-segmental features: Phonetic features that span more than a single speech segment. Features that span a whole syllable or are only apparent when one syllable is compared with others in its neighbourhood. Typical suprasegmental features: Typical suprasegmental features: –Voice pitch –Loudness or vocal effort –Length or relative duration of a syllable Suprasegmental features realize or express prosodic contrasts. Suprasegmental features realize or express prosodic contrasts.

English Prosody Made up of three prosodic systems: Made up of three prosodic systems: –Stress: operates at the level of the word –Rhythm –Intonation: operates at the level of the phrase or whole utternace. Stress: the relative prominence of a syllable. Stress: the relative prominence of a syllable. Rhythm: Rhythm: patterns of stress in time. Intonation: the pitch pattern of an utterance.

Some complications Prosody in languages that are related to English can be analysed under three main headings (word stress, rhythm, intonation). However, for tone languages (Chinese, Vietnamese, and many others) or other languages whose prosodic system is quite different from that of English (like Japanese), the 3-way division of prosody into stress, rhythm and intonation applies only in part. Prosodic interference or transfer effects (interference of L1 prosody on L2) can be a major source of difficulty for second language learners. More on this later.

English word stress Locate the main stress (most prominent syllable) in these words: Locate the main stress (most prominent syllable) in these words: electricelectrician permit (n) permit (v)    Locate the unstressed syllables in the words above. Locate the unstressed syllables in the words above. Unstressed syllables undergo vowel reduction. Unstressed syllables undergo vowel reduction. Syllables that are not reduced, but not the most prominent in the word are called ‘secondary stressed’ syllables. Syllables that are not reduced, but not the most prominent in the word are called ‘secondary stressed’ syllables.    

  Hence we may distinguish 3 levels of stress in English words: Hence we may distinguish 3 levels of stress in English words: –Primary: main stress or accent –Secondary: unreduced and not accented –Tertiary: reduced or unstressed. Some word stress alternations in English: Some word stress alternations in English: diplomatdiplomacydiplomatic photographphotographyphotographic  

It is sometimes hard to distinguish between secondary and tertiary levels of stress. It is sometimes hard to distinguish between secondary and tertiary levels of stress.  or  ??  or  ?? There is some dialect variation with vowel reduction. There is some dialect variation with vowel reduction. English word stress ‘likes’ to follow an alternating pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables: English word stress ‘likes’ to follow an alternating pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables:       S U S U S U S S U S U S U S U S U S S U S U

Word stress is culminative in English. Polysyllabic words in English have a single center of stress prominence, the accented syllable. Polysyllabic words in English have a single center of stress prominence, the accented syllable. Even in long words, which might be said to have two primary stressed syllables: Even in long words, which might be said to have two primary stressed syllables:psycholinguistics  One syllable in the word tends to carry the accent in the intonation contour of a whole utternace. One syllable in the word tends to carry the accent in the intonation contour of a whole utternace.    (incredulous)    (incredulous) The stress pattern of a word ‘culminates’ in a single syllable – the one that potentially carries phrase accent. The stress pattern of a word ‘culminates’ in a single syllable – the one that potentially carries phrase accent.

Compound words Words that are composed of words: Words that are composed of words: hot-doghot dog [  h  t  d  g][  h  t  d  g] compoundphrase look-inlook in [  l  k  ][  l  k  ] Compound word has initial stress. Compound word has initial stress. The second element of the compound is de- accented. (Compared with the 2 nd element of the phrase) The second element of the compound is de- accented. (Compared with the 2 nd element of the phrase) Only one accented syllable per word. Only one accented syllable per word.

Stress is important for the sound pattern of English words Non-native speakers of English should practice hearing and producing these stress contrasts: Non-native speakers of English should practice hearing and producing these stress contrasts: an  insultto in  sult an  overflowto over  flow an  increaseto in  crease a  walkoutto  walk  out See exercises from Peter Ladefoged. See exercises from Peter Ladefoged.Peter LadefogedPeter Ladefoged

Stress and word class in English All major lexical items carry primary stress (have an accentable syllable). All major lexical items carry primary stress (have an accentable syllable). Function words are normally unstressed (reduced) Function words are normally unstressed (reduced)  John was  sure that the  keys were  on the  table. The preposition ‘on’ which carries primary stress, is an exception to the rule in this case. The preposition ‘on’ which carries primary stress, is an exception to the rule in this case. The accented syllables on lexical items and the unstressed function words set up a rhythmic pattern in English utterances. The accented syllables on lexical items and the unstressed function words set up a rhythmic pattern in English utterances.

English rhythm Stressed syllables tend to occur at regular intervals of time. Stressed syllables tend to occur at regular intervals of time.  Stressed  syllables  tend to o  ccur at  regular  intervals of  time. You can usually tap in regular time to the primary stressed syllables in a fluent English phrase. You can usually tap in regular time to the primary stressed syllables in a fluent English phrase. English is said to be a ‘stress-timed’ language. English is said to be a ‘stress-timed’ language. Other languages are said to be ‘syllable timed’ (e.g. French) or ‘mora timed’ (Japanese, Finnish). Other languages are said to be ‘syllable timed’ (e.g. French) or ‘mora timed’ (Japanese, Finnish). No language is perfectly rhythmic (isochronous) and this classification of types of language rhythm remains controversial. No language is perfectly rhythmic (isochronous) and this classification of types of language rhythm remains controversial.

Summarizing: English stress Three levels of prominence (stress) in English words. Three levels of prominence (stress) in English words. Depending on whether a syllable may carry accent, or undergo reduction: Depending on whether a syllable may carry accent, or undergo reduction: AccentedReduced Primary stressyesnostressed Secondary stressnonostressed Tertiary stressnoyesunstressed English stress is culminative. English stress is culminative. Alternating stressed and unstressed syllables set up rhythmic patterns in speech. Alternating stressed and unstressed syllables set up rhythmic patterns in speech. English is said to be stress-timed. English is said to be stress-timed.

Phonetic expression of stress in English. Is complex and involves several supra- segmental features: Is complex and involves several supra- segmental features: Pitch prominence: accented syllables carry the main changes of voice pitch in the utterance. Pitch prominence: accented syllables carry the main changes of voice pitch in the utterance. Loudness: stressed syllables are louder. Loudness: stressed syllables are louder. Length: stressed syllables are longer in duration. Length: stressed syllables are longer in duration. Gestural magnitude: Length and loudness differences may reflect a common factor that prominent syllables are produced with larger articulatory and vocal gestures, which resist reduction and coarticulation effects – properties of unstressed syllables. Gestural magnitude: Length and loudness differences may reflect a common factor that prominent syllables are produced with larger articulatory and vocal gestures, which resist reduction and coarticulation effects – properties of unstressed syllables.

Tone Tone languages use voice pitch (and possibly voice quality) to make lexical contrasts (to distinguish words). Tone languages use voice pitch (and possibly voice quality) to make lexical contrasts (to distinguish words). The domain of tone is the syllable (Hence tone is a supra-segmental feature). The domain of tone is the syllable (Hence tone is a supra-segmental feature). The number of tones a language uses is quite limited. The number of tones a language uses is quite limited. Tone and word stress tend to be ‘competing’ prosodic systems. Tone and word stress tend to be ‘competing’ prosodic systems.

Vietnamese tones a á à ạ ả ã

Types of tone language (Standard) Chinese and Vietnamese are examples of contour tone languages. (Standard) Chinese and Vietnamese are examples of contour tone languages. Their tones are made up of dynamic voice pitch changes (along with voice quality). Their tones are made up of dynamic voice pitch changes (along with voice quality). Register tone languages (predominating in Africa) have level tones, usually in just two pitch registers: high and low. Register tone languages (predominating in Africa) have level tones, usually in just two pitch registers: high and low.

A West African register tone language

Tone and word stress May be regarded as competing systems of word prosody. Why might this be so? May be regarded as competing systems of word prosody. Why might this be so? The phonetic features which carry tone and stress are similar. The phonetic features which carry tone and stress are similar. Tonal contrasts and stress contrasts may make competing requirements on the speech mechanism. Tonal contrasts and stress contrasts may make competing requirements on the speech mechanism. In English, there is only one accent bearing syllable per word. Some syllables undergo reduction. In English, there is only one accent bearing syllable per word. Some syllables undergo reduction. Stress contrasts exist between syllables in different positions in a word:  permitper  mit Stress contrasts exist between syllables in different positions in a word:  permitper  mit In Vietnamese, every syllable carries a tone. Syllables are not reduced. In Vietnamese, every syllable carries a tone. Syllables are not reduced. Tone contrasts would be threatened by syllable reduction. Tone contrasts would be threatened by syllable reduction. Does Vietnamese have word stress? A controversial issue. Does Vietnamese have word stress? A controversial issue.

Intonation The melody of a phrase or whole utternace. The melody of a phrase or whole utternace. What would an utterance sound like without its intonation contour? What would an utterance sound like without its intonation contour? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This utterance was generated by a speech synthesiser, where voice pitch can be separately controled from other parameters of speech production. This utterance was generated by a speech synthesiser, where voice pitch can be separately controled from other parameters of speech production. Changes in voice pitch are the main phonetic cue for intonation. Changes in voice pitch are the main phonetic cue for intonation. But the duration and pausing pattern in an utterance are also crucial cues for intonation. But the duration and pausing pattern in an utterance are also crucial cues for intonation.

The elements of an intonation contuour The major pitch peaks and voice pitch changes, which are known as ‘accents’. The major pitch peaks and voice pitch changes, which are known as ‘accents’. The shape and location of these accents. The shape and location of these accents. The relative duration of segments and the location of pauses (junctures). The relative duration of segments and the location of pauses (junctures). bird hand two bush Voice pitch trace spectrogram

Meaning and the shape of pitch accents The meaning of a pitch accent will be strongly affected by the context in which it appears. The meaning of a pitch accent will be strongly affected by the context in which it appears. But some generalizations can be made about the meanings of basic accent types: But some generalizations can be made about the meanings of basic accent types: yesyesyesyesyes falllow riselevelhigh rise risefall ‘agree’‘go on’boredsurpriseinsist ‘assert’impatientquestion neutral

Functions of intonation: What does intonation do? Illocutionary: marking speaker’s attitude and intended purpose of the utterance. – –Asserting, pleading, insisting, inquiring,… Demarcative: marking phrase boundaries. – –Related to syntactic parsing, identifying phrase boundaries Highlighting: marking ‘new’ or ‘important’ information. – –When a topic is first introduced into discourse, it is likely to be placed at the intonational centre of the phrase, to be thus highlighted to draw the listener’s attention. On subsequent mention, the item shifts out of intonational focus. It is now old information.

Some intonational contrasts to analyse Would you like tea or coffee? A: B: Would you like tea or coffee? A: B: A lion is a mammal. A: B: A lion is a mammal. A: B: Your mom will marry a lawyer. Your mom will marry a lawyer. Go on. A: B: Go on. A: B: When danger threatens your children call the police. A: B: When danger threatens your children call the police. A: B: Jenny gave Peter instructions to follow. Jenny gave Peter instructions to follow. A: B: A: B: