The many linguistic functions of duration

This paper surveys the many ways in which duration serves to distinguish between different words and between higher‐level linguistic units. At word level, durational differences that result in a difference in meaning are commonly analyzed as due to distinctive segmental quantity. This paper considers some instances in which segmental quantity is subordinated to durational patterns with larger domains, and cases in which duration interacts with F0 in establishing distinctions between words in languages usually not assumed to possess distinctive tone. At higher levels, duration plays a part in signaling boundaries of units as well as in establishing the identity of the unit. Interaction with F0 at these higher levels is likewise considered.