TONAL AND ARTICULATORY MARKING OF FOCUS IN GERMAN

A production study on read German speech shows an increase in prominence-lending parameters as the focus domain is narrowed, or when contrast is expressed over non-contrast. Prominence-lending parameters included tonal and durational cues (e.g. n uclear pitch accent type and scaling, duration of se gments and syllables) as well as those relating to s upralaryngeal articulation (e.g. formant values of v owels in nuclear syllables). These cues are exploited by different speakers to different degrees and in diff erent combinations, but are all used for signalling aspec ts of focus.