Declination in prosody refers to the fact that the pitch of the voice is most commonly on average lower at the end of a prosodic unit than it is at the beginning, especially in controlled (read) speech. The main concerns of this paper are the analysis and comparison of the paragraph- declination of read speech of native and non-native speakers of English. More precisely, the analysis and comparison of the paragraph-pitch-patterns in the English of a native speaker and of a speaker with the tone language Chinese as her native language. Do distinct differences between the pitch-curves (i.e. the curves of the F0-formants) exist, and, if so, what might be the reasons for those differences? Does the particular feature of the tone language Chinese, i.e. the word-meaning-defining pitch, in any way affect paragraph-declination in L2-English? Or does this feature have no effect on paragraph-declination at all, maybe for physiological reasons? For this purpose, two speech samples of read speech will be divided into paratones and the pitch-curves of the paratones of the intonation and tone language will then be measured and compared. But beforehand, a brief outline of the main differences between tone and intonation languages will be provided. A short definition of declination in prosody and two ways of defining prosodic domains follow.
Table of Contents
- I. Introduction
- II. Theoretical Part
- II.1 Tone languages and intonation languages
- II.2 Declination in prosody
- II.3 External and internal definitions of large-scale prosodic domains
- II.3.1 Paratones
- II.3.2 Paragraph declination or supradeclination
- III. Empirical Part
- III.1 Method: Data collection and analysis
- III.2 Findings
- III.3 Discussion
- IV. Summary
- V. References
- VI. Appendix
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes and compares paragraph declination in the read speech of native and non-native English speakers. Specifically, it compares the pitch patterns of a native English speaker and a speaker whose native language is Chinese, a tone language. The main objective is to determine if distinct differences exist in pitch curves and to explore the potential influence of the speaker's native language on paragraph declination in their L2 English.
- Paragraph declination in read speech
- Comparison of pitch patterns between native and non-native English speakers
- Influence of tone languages (specifically Chinese) on L2 English prosody
- The relationship between sub-glottal air pressure and pitch declination
- Different models of declination (overlay vs. downstep)
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the focus of the paper: an analysis and comparison of paragraph declination in the read speech of native and non-native English speakers. It specifically highlights the comparison between a native English speaker and a speaker with Chinese as their native language. The chapter poses key research questions concerning the existence of differences in pitch curves and potential reasons for these differences, particularly focusing on the influence of the tone language feature of Chinese on L2 English paragraph declination. The methodology involving the analysis of speech samples divided into paratones is briefly outlined, with a promise of a subsequent explanation of the differences between tone and intonation languages.
II. Theoretical Part: This section lays the groundwork for the empirical analysis. Section II.1 differentiates between tone and intonation languages, illustrating how pitch functions differently in each type. The example of minimal pairs in Szechuanese Chinese demonstrates the lexically significant role of pitch in tone languages. Section II.2 defines declination in prosody, addressing its potential physiological origins linked to sub-glottal air pressure and the mechanisms of vocal chord vibration. It then introduces two models of declination: the overlay model and the downstep model, drawing an analogy to musical tunes to clarify the concepts. The chapter concludes by favoring the downstep model as a more accurate description, particularly for larger prosodic units like paragraphs.
Keywords
Paragraph declination, prosody, intonation, tone languages, Chinese, English, native speakers, non-native speakers, pitch patterns, sub-glottal air pressure, overlay model, downstep model, L2 acquisition.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Paragraph Declination in Native and Non-Native English Speakers
What is the main focus of this research paper?
The paper analyzes and compares paragraph declination in the read speech of native and non-native English speakers, specifically contrasting a native English speaker with a native Chinese speaker. It investigates differences in pitch patterns and explores how the speaker's native language might influence their L2 English prosody.
What are the key research questions addressed in the paper?
The research aims to determine if distinct differences exist in pitch curves between native and non-native English speakers and to explore the reasons behind these differences. A primary focus is the potential influence of the tone language feature of Chinese on L2 English paragraph declination.
How does the paper define and differentiate between tone and intonation languages?
The paper explains that tone languages use pitch to distinguish lexical meaning (as illustrated with minimal pairs in Szechuanese Chinese), while intonation languages use pitch for grammatical and expressive functions. This distinction is crucial for understanding how a speaker's native language might affect their production of L2 English.
What are the different models of declination discussed in the paper?
The paper explores two models of declination: the overlay model and the downstep model. These models offer different explanations for the gradual lowering of pitch across a speech segment. The paper ultimately favors the downstep model as a more accurate description, particularly for larger prosodic units like paragraphs.
What role does sub-glottal air pressure play in declination?
The paper suggests a link between sub-glottal air pressure and the physiological mechanisms underlying pitch declination. The gradual decrease in sub-glottal air pressure during speech is discussed as a potential contributor to the observed pitch decline.
What methodology is used in the empirical part of the study?
The empirical part involves the collection and analysis of speech samples. These samples are divided into paratones for detailed analysis of pitch patterns. The specific methods of data collection and analysis are described in more detail within the paper.
What are the key findings of the empirical study?
While not explicitly detailed in this preview, the empirical findings regarding the differences in pitch patterns between native and non-native speakers are presented and discussed in the paper's dedicated empirical section.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include paragraph declination in read speech, comparison of pitch patterns between native and non-native speakers, influence of tone languages on L2 English prosody, the relationship between sub-glottal air pressure and pitch declination, and the comparison of different models of declination (overlay vs. downstep).
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview provides summaries of the introduction (establishing the research focus and questions), the theoretical part (explaining tone and intonation languages, declination models, and the role of sub-glottal air pressure), and briefly mentions the empirical part which includes methodology, findings, and discussion. A summary chapter and references are also mentioned.
What keywords are associated with this research?
Keywords include: Paragraph declination, prosody, intonation, tone languages, Chinese, English, native speakers, non-native speakers, pitch patterns, sub-glottal air pressure, overlay model, downstep model, and L2 acquisition.
- Citation du texte
- Robert Mattes (Auteur), 2005, Paragraph-Declination in Read Speech of Native and Non-Native Speakers of English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/46440
