Search papers, labs, and topics across Lattice.
This chapter investigates the complex relationship between intonation and lexical tone in various Mandarin Chinese varieties, emphasizing the role of fundamental frequency (f0) as a key acoustic feature. By examining intonation boundary phenomena, the study reveals how intonation and tone interact to convey nuanced sentence-level functions, such as differentiating between questions and statements, as well as expressing speaker attitudes. The findings highlight the necessity for theoretical models that accommodate the intricate interplay of tonal elements and boundary phenomena in communication.
Intonation and tone in Mandarin are not just separate features; they dynamically interact to shape meaning and speaker intent in profound ways.
This chapter explores the intricate interplay between intonation and tone in Mandarin Chinese varieties, focusing on f0, the primary acoustic cue for both intonation and tone. The main empirical base is intonation boundary phenomena, where intonation and tone intersect and influence each other in conveying a range of sentence-level linguistic functions -- such as question vs. statement -- and a rich array of speakers'attitudinal information. Theoretical models and emerging techniques are also discussed to account for the observed interactions of tonal aspects and boundary phenomena to convey multiple levels of communicative meanings.
