The Phonology of Tone and Intonation (Research Surveys in Linguistics)

Using examples from a wide variety of languages, this book reveals why speakers vary their pitch, what these variations mean, and how they are integrated into our grammars. All languages use modulations in pitch to form utterances. Pitch modulation encodes lexical "tone" to signal boundaries between morphemes or words, and encodes "intonation" to give words and sentences an additional meaning that isn't part of their original sense. Tone and Intonation are two types of pitch variation, which are used by speakers of all languages in order to give shape to utterances. More specifically, tone encodes segments and morphemes, and intonation gives utterances a further discoursal meaning that is independent of the meanings of the words themselves. In this comprehensive survey, Carlos Gussenhoven provides an overview of research into tone and intonation, discussing why speakers vary their pitch, what pitch variations mean, and how they are integrated into our grammars. He also explains why intonation in part appears to be universally understood, while at other times it is language-specific and can lead to misunderstandings. After eight chapters on general topics relating to pitch modulation, the book's central arguments are illustrated with comprehensive phonological descriptions - partly in Optimality Theory - of the tonal and intonational systems of six languages, including Japanese, Dutch, and English. In This Comprehensive Survey, Carlos Gussenhoven Provides An Up-to-date Overview Of Research Into Tone And Intonation, Discussing Why Speakers Vary Their Pitch, What Pitch Variations Mean, And How They Are Integrated Into Our Grammars. He Also Explains Why Intonation In Part Appears To Be Universally Understood, While At Other Times It Is Language-specific And Can Lead To Misunderstandings.--book Jacket. Pitch In Humans And Machines -- Pitch In Language I : Stress And Intonation -- Pitch In Language Ii : Tone -- Intonation And Language -- Paralinguistics : Three Biological Codes -- Downtrends -- Tonal Structures -- Intonation In Optimality Theory -- Northern Biskaian Basque -- Tokyo Japanese -- Scandinavian -- The Central Franconian Tone -- French -- English I : Phrasing And Accent Distribution -- English Ii : Tonal Structure. Carlos Gussenhoven. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 321-344) And Index. Tone and Intonation are two types of pitch variation, which are used to give shape to utterances. In this book, Carlos Gussenhoven provides an up-to-date survey of research into tone and intonation, discussing why speakers vary their pitch, what pitch variations mean, and how they are integrated into our grammars.