How intonations interact with tones in Embosi (Bantu C25), a two-tone language without downdrift

This chapter presents a study of the intonational system of Embosi, a two-tone Bantu language without downstep (or downdrift) in which boundary tones are superimposed on tones and not inserted on the same line. To account for the interaction between lexical tones and boundary tones, a model with a dual register organization is proposed. It involves a basic register for the tone realizations and enlargements above and below this basic register, due to extra-high or extra-low boundary tones. Expansions were found in yes-no questions and in the expression of emphasis. Boundary tones are involved in the marking of assertions (L%), polar questions (HL%), wh-questions (L%), among others. Focus is not indicated by prosodic means. Embosi has a prosodic hierarchy with Phonological Words and Intonational Phrases but lacks Phonological Phrases.

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