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。 

FO patterns at the boundary of intonational phrases:the interaction of focus,lexical stress and boundary tone

This paper studies how focus,lexical stress and rising boundary tone act on the fundamental frequency(F0) of the immediate preboundary word of intonational phrases based on two American English corpora.The results show that when the preboundary word is focused,the F0 peak of lexical stress is even higher than the F0 height required by the rising boundary tone at the end of the word.Boundary tone is represented after the realization of this focus.Furthermore, the location of lexical stress in the syllable structure can be a key factor to restrain the post-focus pitch range.When the preboundary word is non-focused,the rising boundary tone takes control almost from the beginning of the word and flattens the F0 peak of lexical stress.Our conclusion is that each prosodic feature has its best functional realization at a particular stretch.Focus can be realized by lifting the F0 peak of lexical stress;and the strength of realization of focus and boundary tone is limited by the location of lexical stress in the syllable structure,and under extreme conditions boundary tone is only carried by the last part of the immediate preboundary syllable.This interaction of focus,lexical stress and rising boundary tone on a single word thus leads to the F0 competition due to limited articulatory dimensions.