Acoustic Parameters in German and Brazilian Portuguese Question Intonation

Abstract

Based on the definition of prosody and intonation by Hirst
and di Cristo (1998), we analyze the interdependency and
the role of three acoustic parameters, e.g. F0, duration and
intensity in signalizing question patterns. Comparing German
and Brazilian Portuguese, we discuss formal and functional
aspects of the three parameters. In both languages, F0 turns
out to be the factor most closely related to the interrogative
modus. Duration seems to be connected, in the first place, in functions of grouping and giving prominence to the
stressed syllable in the phonological group of every sentence.
Concerning intensity, there is no such thing as a regular
behaviour in any of the languages in question, but the
parameter does fulfil several linguistic functions. In German,
the data affirms patterns previously described for the yes-no
question: The major pitch is realized on the very last syllable
of the sentence, no matter whether it is stressed or not. In
Brazilian Portuguese, no such strong pattern is detected for
yes-no questions.