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Testing a model of intonation in a tone language
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|September 1, 1986
Summary
This study models fundamental frequency contours for Hausa statements and questions. The intonational model separates tone and intonation rules, showing how sentence type affects pitch.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Phonetics
- Prosody
Background:
- Hausa is a two-tone language spoken in Nigeria.
- Intonational models often struggle to separate tone and intonation.
- Previous models may not adequately capture the prosodic variations in tonal languages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate schematic fundamental frequency (F0) curves for simple statements and questions in Hausa.
- To adapt and apply an existing intonational model to a two-tone language.
- To investigate the interaction of global and local factors in shaping pitch contours.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified version of the Gårding and Bruce intonational model.
- Separated rules for intonation (represented as grids) and tones (associated with F0 turning points).
- Modeled continuous F0 contours using polynomial equations to connect tonal points.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that the slope of intonational grids depends on sentence type, length, and tone pattern.
- Successfully generated F0 curves for Hausa statements and questions.
- Showcased the interaction between global intonational patterns and local tonal placements.
Conclusions:
- The adapted model effectively represents the interaction between intonation and tone in Hausa.
- Sentence type (statement vs. question) is a significant factor influencing Hausa intonation.
- The model provides a framework for analyzing prosody in tonal languages like Hausa.