汉语语调降阶的实验研究

采用设计特定声调组合的实验室语句的方法,研究了汉语普通话语调降阶的规律。结果发现,在普通话语调中,同样存在自动降阶和非自动降阶两种音高现象。在有低音介入的非自动降阶中,低音对后音节音域的影响表现在使音域上限降低,音域的下限保持不变;因此汉语中的降阶是语调高音特征的表现;低音特征声调会使低音后的高音发生正向降低和低音前高音的逆向提高,并且这两种作用是可以相互包容的。在自动降阶中,高音线的下降趋势是线性的,它受重音位置及重读程度的影响,在发音人中有较大差异。与已有的其他语言降阶研究的结果相比,汉语的降阶率不是固定的,且降阶的作用范围并不只局限于同低音相邻的音节。     

边界强度对焦点实现方式的影响

汉语普通话中,单焦点主要表现为焦点词音高上升和焦点后音高压缩(Post-Focus-Compression,PFC),而双焦点句中第一个焦点后音高压缩有限。韵律边界强度是否影响焦点的实现方式,特别是焦点后音高压缩?本实验借助句法上词、短语、分句和句子的分类,在句中关键词(X)后设定了4种韵律边界强度。通过问句引导的4种焦点条件分别为:关键词X为焦点,句末词Y为焦点,词X和Y都是焦点(双焦点),以及中性焦点。语音分析结果显示:(1)焦点词都表现出音高上升和时长延长,增加量在单焦点和双焦点间没有显著差异,且不受焦点词后边界强度的影响;(2)双焦点句中第一个焦点后的音高压缩会被中等强度的边界减弱,而只有非常强的边界才会减弱单焦后的音高压缩;(3)随韵律边界强度增加,边界前的词时长增加,但延长量是有上限的,且不受焦点位置的影响。总体来说,韵律边界和焦点在语调上是平行编码的。      

汉语韵律层级结构边界的声学分析

基于大规模语料库,对比了较慢和较快两种语速的语料,研究了韵律层级结构边界的声学表现。研究主要得到以下结果: (1)汉语语句音高的下倾和重置是由音域下限的移动实现的。 (2)韵律词边界的声学线索是低音线的不连续性和边界前音节的延长, 一般没有无声段。 (3)韵律短语和语调短语边界的声学线索是低音线重置和无声段。并且,边界等级越高,低音线重置程度越大,无声段的长度也越长。 (4)知觉等级与无声段长度成对数增长关系。     

音高和时长在语篇语句重音中的作用

本研究通过30篇自然叙事语篇,以韵律词为分析单位,对语篇中音高和时长在语句重音中的作用进行探讨,结果主要发现:(1)韵律词音域的相对宽窄对语句重音起着最主要的作用.(2)音高和时长在语句重音中的作用受到小句音域宽度和韵律词等级的交互影响.在正常韵律诃中,1级重音由音高和时长共同发挥作用来实现;2级重音主要靠音高起作用.在强化韵律词中,小句音域越窄,时长在语句重音中的作用越重要.(3)音高和时长之间的相关性主要受到韵律词强度的影响,在弱化、正常和强化韵律词中,音高和时长分别表现出普遍的正相关、不相关和负相关.     

汉语语调音高下倾的实验研究

通过提取和分析特定声调组合的实验室语句的音高曲线,探讨了确定条件下的汉语语句音高下倾趋势。分析结果表明,在不同类型声调组合的陈述句中,低音线清晰地呈现出以韵律短语为基本单元的下倾现象,下倾的斜率与韵律短语长度成反比.声调组合不同,以及承载下倾特征点的音节在韵律词中的位置不同,都会导致低音线下倾的斜率不同。具体表现为:(1)当低音点处于韵律词词首时,低音线斜率的绝对值大于低音点处于韵律词词末时的绝对值;(2)韵律短语音高下倾程度还受其在句中所处位置的影响,句首韵律短语的下倾程度大于旬末韵律短语的下倾程度;(3)主句包含多个韵律短语时,它们的低音线起点可以是依次单调递降的,具体的下倾模式受短语之间句法语义关系的制约。      

不同语调条件下的声调音高实现

从调类个性、句中位置和重音级别3个层面的语音分析,考察普通话4个声调在不同语调条件下的音高实现。目标词被置于3种不同的焦点位置(即句重音最强的位置)和两种不同的非焦点位置(即非句重音位置)上,对目标词的调域以及目标声调的高音点和低音点进行了观察分析。实验结果表明,(1)在焦点条件以及非焦点条件下,阳平的音高位于调域的中低音区,去声低音点的理论调值尽管低于阳平低音点,但去声低音点在音高实现上往往接近阳平低音点甚至会高于阳平低音点;(2)焦点在句首位置表现为调域向上下两个方向扩展,在句末位置则表现为调域整体上抬,但不同声调的高音点并不都与调域上限同比例变化,不同声调低音点的变化也并不都与调域下限同比例变化;(3)重音后音节的音高对焦点音节的依赖关系受音步组合关系的制约,焦点和焦点后音节若在同一音步内,焦点后音节的音高与焦点音节的音高关系类似轻声音节与其前接非轻声音节的音高关系,焦点和焦点后音节之间如果存在音步边界,焦点后音节的音高表现出一定的独立性。这些结果说明了语句中声调音高实现的复杂性,一个具有较好预测性的汉语普通话语调模型的建立需要包括焦点结构、韵律结构、协同发音、调类个性等不同层面信息的诸多细节化规则。     

不同语调条件下的声调音高实现

从调类个性、句中位置和重音级别3个层面的语音分析,考察普通话4个声调在不同语调条件下的音高实现。目标词被置于3种不同的焦点位置(即句重音最强的位置)和两种不同的非焦点位置(即非句重音位置)上,对目标词的调域以及目标声调的高音点和低音点进行了观察分析。实验结果表明,(1)在焦点条件以及非焦点条件下,阳平的音高位于调域的中低音区,去声低音点的理论调值尽管低于阳平低音点,但去声低音点在音高实现上往往接近阳平低音点甚至会高于阳平低音点;(2)焦点在句首位置表现为调域向上下两个方向扩展,在句末位置则表现为调域整体上抬,但不同声调的高音点并不都与调域上限同比例变化,不同声调低音点的变化也并不都与调域下限同比例变化;(3)重音后音节的音高对焦点音节的依赖关系受音步组合关系的制约,焦点和焦点后音节若在同一音步内,焦点后音节的音高与焦点音节的音高关系类似轻声音节与其前接非轻声音节的音高关系,焦点和焦点后音节之间如果存在音步边界,焦点后音节的音高表现出一定的独立性。这些结果说明了语句中声调音高实现的复杂性,一个具有较好预测性的汉语普通话语调模型的建立需要包括焦点结构、韵律结构、协同发音、调类个性等不同层面信息的诸多细节化规则。      

汉语口语与朗读话语陈述句音高比较

汉语语句通常存在音高下倾现象,然而关于语句内部韵律词的具体音高表现目前的研究尚较欠缺。本研究使用的对话语料选自973电话语料库,包括69段对话,涉及79位说话人;朗读话语语料为广播电台两位主持人的新闻播音,长度为221个语句,对语句内部韵律词的高音点、低音点及音域进行了分析,结果显示对话与朗读话语多数语句的音高呈前高后低的走势,不过口语对话较长语句前半段的音高下降趋势不太明显。与朗读话语相比,口语对话韵律词的音域通常比较小。对话语句最后一个韵律词的音域相对较大,而朗读话语内部韵律词的音域大多没有差异。本研究的结果,将有助于语音合成中语句内部韵律词音阶及音域的构拟。      

语篇中大尺度信息单元边界的声学线索

主要研究了语篇中句子、段落等大尺度信息单元边界的韵律等级以及边界处的声学线索。对10个语篇语料库进行了韵律等级标注和声学分析。研究得到以下主要结论: (1)语篇中有韵律意义的大尺度信息单元有小句(对应语调短语)、句子(包括单句和复句)和段落。单句和复句边界没有知觉等级和声学特征上的显著区别,对应同一韵律单元。 (2)大尺度韵律边界等级的音高线索是通过边界前后音节的音高对比实现的,即音高重置程度。仅有首音节或末音节处的单一声学线索不足以区分边界等级。(3)段落和复句内的语调短语基本以平行的模式存在,没有明显的、规律性的整体语调下倾的现象。 (4)信息单元越大,无声段越长且变化的自由度越大。另外,在小句边界处无声段与音高重置程度显著正相关。     

连续话语中双音节韵律词的重音感知

对于从微软亚洲研究院的汉语语音语料库中获得的300个语句中的1,898个双音节韵律词进行了重音感知实验,实验结果表明,连续话语中双音节词的重音感知特点与孤立词的重音感知特点有所不同,它受到词所在的韵律边界的显著影响。在感知实验中,词内两音节的重音得分之差与它们的高音点音高差和时长差都表现出正相关,但与高音点音高差的相关强于与时长差的相关。高音点音高差和时长差在非停顿前不相关,在停顿前为较弱的正相关。实验结果还表明,音节的重音感知受到调型的显著影响。     

The effects of prosodic phrase boundary on the pitch lowering of downstep and focus

The effects of prosodic phrase(PP)boundary on the pitch lowering of downstep and focus,as well as the domains of them were investigated in Chinese Putonghua,by using designed sentences which consist of two prosodic phrases(i.e.,PP1,PP2).The results showed that:(1)The PP boundary blocked the downstep effect in the preceding phrase,indicating that PP is the domain of downstep.(2)The post-focus F_0 lowering effect in PP1 spread across the PP boundary and lower the FO contour of PP2.If there is a downstep effect in PP2,the postboundary compression effect of the prior focus will accumulate with the downstep,producing further lowered contour.Therefore,the domain of focus is an intonational phrase(IP).(3)When there is one contrastive focus in each phrase,the outstanding pitch reset elicited by the second focus will block the FO lowering effect of PP1 onto PP2,and the two foci are realized independently.     

Experimental study on downstep in Chinese intonation

Downstep in pitch contour of Chinese Putonghua is examined using subtly designed sentences by controlling tone combinations. The results show both automatic and nonautomatic downstep phenomena exist in Chinese. In non-automatic downstep, low tones compress downwards the pitch range of the following syllables. and the main influence of downstep is on topline. Low tone not only lower the topline behind it, but also raise the high tones before it, the effects are compatible with each other. In automatic downstep, the topline of pitch contour in intonational phrase is presented as a linear downtrend, but it differs among speakers due to the effect of personal stress practice. In comparison with downstep phenomenon in other tone or non-tone languages, the downstep ratio in Chinese is not constant, and the domain of downstep is not limited within the adjacent tones.     

Effects of prosodic boundary on /aC/ sequences: acoustic results

This study presents various acoustic measures used to examine the sequence /a # C/, where "#" represents different prosodic boundaries in French. The 6 consonants studied are /b d g f s S/ (3 stops and 3 fricatives). The prosodic units investigated are the utterance, the intonational phrase, the accentual phrase, and the word. It is found that vowel target values, formant transitions into the stop consonant, and the rate of change in spectral tilt into the fricative, are affected by the strength of the prosodic boundary. F1 becomes higher for /a/ the stronger the prosodic boundary, with the exception of one speaker's utterance data, which show the effects of articulatory declension at the utterance level. Various effects of the stop consonant context are observed, the most notable being a tendency for the vowel /a/ to be displaced in the direction of the F2 consonant "locus" for /d/ (the F2 consonant values for which remain relatively stable across prosodic boundaries) and for /g/ (the F2 consonant values for which are displaced in the direction of the velar locus in weaker prosodic boundaries, together with those of the vowel). Velocity of formant transition may be affected by prosodic boundary (with greater velocity at weaker boundaries), though results are not consistent across speakers. There is also a tendency for the rate of change in spectral tilt moving from the vowel to the fricative to be affected by the presence of a prosodic boundary, with a greater rate of change at the weaker prosodic boundaries. It is suggested that spectral cues, in addition to duration, amplitude, and F0 cues, may alert listeners to the presence of a prosodic boundary.     

焦点、词重音与边界调对语调短语末词基频模式的影响

研究了语调短语边界处焦点、词重音位置与上升的边界调对语调短语末词基频模式的影响。通过分析两个美式英语语料库语调短语末词的声学特征,我们发现当该单词是焦点时,重音的基频峰值比边界调的尾值高;边界调在重音实现后才充分体现出来;词重音在音节结构中后移会压缩词重音后基频调域范围。当语调短语末词不是焦点时,边界调的上升趋势从开始就体现出来,并压制了词重音的基频凸显。我们的结论是,焦点可以通过提升词重音基频峰值的高度完成;焦点和边界调实现的力度受词重音所处位置限制,在极端的情况下,边界调只能在语调短语最末音节的尾部实施。在有限音段上这些韵律特征都有表达其功能最彻底的一段位置,它们竞相展现,此消彼长。      

How far, how long: on the temporal scope of prosodic boundary effects

Acoustic lengthening at prosodic boundaries is well explored, and the articulatory bases for this lengthening are becoming better understood. However, the temporal scope of prosodic boundary effects has not been examined in the articulatory domain. The few acoustic studies examining the distribution of lengthening indicate that boundary effects extend from one to three syllables before the boundary, and that effects diminish as distance from the boundary increases. This diminishment is consistent with the pi-gesture model of prosodic influence [Byrd and Saltzman, J. Phonetics 31, 149-180 (2003)]. The present experiment tests the preboundary and postboundary scope of articulatory lengthening at an intonational phrase boundary. Movement-tracking data are used to evaluate durations of consonant closing and opening movements, acceleration durations, and consonant spatial magnitude. Results indicate that prosodic boundary effects exist locally near the phrase boundary in both directions, diminishing in magnitude more remotely for those subjects who exhibit extended effects. Small postboundary effects that are compensatory in direction are also observed.     

维吾尔语焦点的韵律实现及感知

通过严格控制的语音实验,研究了维吾尔语陈述句中焦点对音高和时长的调节作用。实验设计了两个目标句,请发音人根据上下文自然地强调句中相应的词,随后还考察了焦点的感知问题。结果表明:(1)以句末焦点为基线,维吾尔语焦点的韵律编码方式类似于北京话和英语中的"三区段"调节模式,表现为焦点词音高升高、音域扩大和焦点后音高骤降(音域变窄),而焦点前音高变化不大;(2)焦点词和焦点前的词时长都有延长,而焦点后的词没有明显变化;(3)对焦点感知的正确率平均可达90%左右,表明焦点的韵律编码方式是有效的感知线索;(4)感知实验及语调分析还显示,维吾尔语"中性焦点"语调特征与英语和汉语不同,它接近句首焦点而不是句末焦点。另外,论文特别讨论了"焦点后音高骤降"在中国语言中的分布及来源问题。      

Perception of intonation in Mandarin Chinese

There is a tendency across languages to use a rising pitch contour to convey question intonation and a falling pitch contour to convey a statement. In a lexical tone language such as Mandarin Chinese, rising and falling pitch contours are also used to differentiate lexical meaning. How, then, does the multiplexing of the F(0) channel affect the perception of question and statement intonation in a lexical tone language? This study investigated the effects of lexical tones and focus on the perception of intonation in Mandarin Chinese. The results show that lexical tones and focus impact the perception of sentence intonation. Question intonation was easier for native speakers to identify on a sentence with a final falling tone and more difficult to identify on a sentence with a final rising tone, suggesting that tone identification intervenes in the mapping of F(0) contours to intonational categories and that tone and intonation interact at the phonological level. In contrast, there is no evidence that the interaction between focus and intonation goes beyond the psychoacoustic level. The results provide insights that will be useful for further research on tone and intonation interactions in both acoustic modeling studies and neurobiological studies.     

Contrastive analysis on tone between Putonghua and Taiwan Mandarin

The differences of the pitch and duration of Chinese syllables between Putonghua （PTH） and Taiwan Mandarin （TM） were studied. The speech materials to be used are not only isolated syllables, but also sentences. The results reveal that： For the isolated syllables, T1 and T2 in TM are influenced by Minnan dialect, therefore their pitch are lower than those in PTH. T3 is fall-rise in PTH, while it is fall in TM. Moreover, the syllable duration sequence for different tone is T3〉T2〉T1〉T4 in PTH, while it is T1〉T2〉T3〉T4 in TM. For the syllables in sentences, T2 is mid-rise in PTH, while it is mid-level in TM. And the T3 is longer than T4 but shorter than T1 or T2 in PTH, while it is the shortest in TM. Furthermore the effects of prosodic phrase boundary on duration for different tones are almost the same in PTH, but the lengthening part of T1 or T2 is longer than that of T3 or T4 in TM.