Timing and Communicative Functions of Pitch Contours

Vol. 62, No. 2-4, 2005

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Original Paper

Timing and Communicative Functions of Pitch Contours
K. Kohler

Institute of Phonetics and Digital Speech Processing (IPDS), University of Kiel,Kiel, Germany

Phonetica 2005;62:88-105 (DOI: 10.1159/000090091)

Abstract

A new research paradigm is applied to F0 synchronization with articulation, inpeak and valley contours, under four principles: (a) Timing of F0 contours enters thedefinitions of the pitch categories. (b) These phonetic exponents are linked to com-municativefunctions. (c) The listener plays a pivotal role. (d) Contextualization oftest stimuli is essential for pitch data collection. Data are presented and interpretedfrom an experimental investigation of the substance-function relationship in theperception of peak and valley shift series by German listeners, using the semanticdifferential technique. The findings of the substance-function relationship areexplained with reference to the frequency codeand to auditory enhancement,i.e.syntagmatic contrast of high-low or low-high pitch trajectories in synchronizationwith articulatory landmarks of accented syllables.

Medline Abstract (ID 16391496)

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