Intonation in Tone Languages: A Comparative Study of Mandarin, Yoruba, and Cantonese

这项资助提供了设备，使研究人员能够比较三种声调语言的语调：普通话，约鲁巴语，还有广东话。在这三种语言中，FO轮廓都可以用稀疏的声调目标来近似。汉语的声调通常有两个目标，分别放在押韵的开头和结尾。然而，升调的第一个目标被推迟到押韵的中心。约鲁巴声调目标位置的创新分析极大地简化了约鲁巴声调音系学。约鲁巴语中的每一种音调都有一个目标。H(Igh)和L(Ow)的目标与韵尾对齐，而M(Id)的目标与开头对齐。这种对齐自动解释了传统上由音位规则处理的“传播”现象。有关音调目标比例的数据证实，全球下行趋势可以被视为多种因素的组合。类目标序列中的下沉效应在L序列中最强，在H序列中次之，韵母下降也较弱，从而影响韵母的音节。合成(下台阶)仅限于交替的L H序列。降低的幅度取决于L目标的音高水平。然而，中间色调并不具有很强的串音效果。

ABSTRACTS This grant provides equipment to enable the investigators to compare the intonation of three tone languages: Mandarin, Yoruba, and Cantonese. In all three languages, FO contours can be approximated with sparsely placed tonal targets. Chinese tones typically have two targets, placed at the beginning and the end of the rhyme. However, the first target of a rising tone is delayed to the center of the rhyme. An innovative analysis of Yoruba tonal target placement drastically simplifies Yoruba tonal phonology. Each tone in Yoruba has a single target. H(igh) and L(ow) targets are aligned with the end of the rhyme, but M(id) target is aligned with the beginning. This alignment automatically accounts for the 'spreading' phenomenon traditionaly handled by a phonological rule. Data on the scaling of tonal target confirms that global downtrend can be viewed as the combination of many factors. Declination effect found in sequence of like targets is strongest in L sequence and less in H sequence, so is final lowering, which affects the final syllable. Catathesis (downstep) is restricted to alternating L H sequence. The amount of lowering depends on the pitch level of the L target. Mid tones, however, do not have strong catathesis effect.