Stylized Intonation

Author:
  • DLD. Robert Ladd
    D. Robert Ladd
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Abstract
The English intonation often referred to as a calling contour—a stepping-down sequence of two level tones—is not inherently associated with calling, but rather conveys the implication that an utterance is in some way stereotyped or stylized. Vivid and quite precise nuances in specific usages can be accounted for by the abstract meaning ‘stylized’. This meaning is not restricted to the stepping-down contour, but is a more general phenomenon: at least three contours ending in level pitch are ‘stylized’ modifications of ‘plain’ contours ending in rising or falling pitch. The relationship of stylized contours to plain contours provides some evidence for preferring British-style ‘nuclear tones’ to whole-sentence ‘tunes’ as units of analysis. More importantly, it clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of any approach to English intonation which treats contours as sequences of significant pitch levels.

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