discourse intonation phonetics brazil key choice part iii

8/12/2019 Discourse Intonation Phonetics Brazil Key Choice Part III

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KEY

PART III



TONE UNIT

(ENCLITIC

SEGMENT)

TONIC

SEGMENT

TONIC

SYLLABLE

TONE

COMPLEX

r+ / p+

SIMPLE

p / r

KEY

MINIMAL(ONSET)

KEY

LOWMIDHIGH

EXTENDED

(PROCLITIC

SEGMENT)



The syllables before the tonic are not utteredin a monotone.

There are three factors which affect the pitchrange:◦ 1-idiosyncratic- the nature of the individual’s speaker’s

vocal folds determines the limits of his/ her pitch range.

◦ 2-socio cultural- the pitch range is also restricted to a

social group.◦ 3- emotional- speakers extend their normal range to

express excitement, surprise, anger, or narrow it to expressboredom and misery.



Pitch range provides a grat deal of information about the individualhimself, the social background and his emotional state.

Together with the sense selection, the speaker also makes keyselection.

In the system, there are also three key choices: HIGH – MID – LOW

The choice of pitch level is independently meaningful.

Key choices are made and recognised with respect to the comparablepitch choice of the immediately preceding tone unit.

Each tone unit selects anew for pitch level

Mid key is not defined as the norm for the speaker. Key choice ofr a given tone unit is realised once and only once in each

tone unit.

Key is an independent , simultaneous choice.



Example:

LOST || HIGH KEY)

||Hegambled ||and LOST || ( MID

KEY)

LOST || ( LOW KEY)



High key is marked by a noticeable step up inpitch level at the first prominent syllable inthe TU.

Its function is to mark the contents of thetone unit as being contrary to presentexpectations. ( X not Y )

When high key is used to correct or contradictsomeone, it is good practice to preced it bysomething said with referring tone (r).



Example- in close –system items:

◦ A: What a pity it wasn’t John.

¬ WAS John ||

B:|| It

( the choice of HK, the speaker

expressly contradicts a recent

assertion or a projected belief or

assumption, that it wasn’t )

was

wasn’t



In open-class items- two alternatives

JOHN || ( John / Peter)

a)||

LOOK||

it’s

JOHN || ( John / x,y, z,etc- it’s

John of all people)

b)|| LOOK || it’s



This choice marks the matter of the tone unitas aditional or additive ( x + y )

There is “and” relationship with what wentbefore.

// He GAMbled// and LOST a FORtune



Low key is marked with a step down in thepitch at the first prominent syllable in thetone unit.

It is used to mark the content of the tone unit

as“ just what the listener would have

expected ” . It marks the matter of the tone unit as

existentially equivalent ( x=y)

There is an implied or “because”relationship,or implied result or “therefore” relationship.



Example:

// He GAMbled // andLOST

( gambled = lost , as usual)

// As it was RAINing //

the MATCH was CANcelled//

(rain= cancelled)

discourse intonation phonetics brazil key choice part iii

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