title: Semantic features of 'stepped' versus 'continuous' contours in German intonation.
abstract: This study analyses the meaning spaces of German pitch contours using two modes of melodic movement: continuous or in steps of sustained pitch. Both the continuous and stepped movements are represented by a set of five basic patterns, the latter being derived from the former. Thirty-six German native speakers judged the pattern sets on a 12-scale semantic differential. The semantic profiles confirm that stepped contours can be conceived of as stylized intonation, in a formal as well as in a functional sense. On the one hand, continuous (non-stylized) and stepped (stylized) contours are assigned different overall meanings (especially on the scales astonished - commonplace and interested - not interested). On the other hand, listeners organize the two contour sets in a similar fashion, which speaks in favour of parallel pattern inventories of continuous and stepped movement, respectively. However, the meaning space of the stylized patterns is affected by formal restrictions, for instance in the step transformation of continuous rises.
authors: Institute of Psychology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
authors: Ernst
authors: E
authors: Dombrowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D012660:Semantics; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D055815:Young Adult