A Perceptual Study of Intonation: An Experimental-Phonetic Approach to Speech Melody

This book presents an experimental-phonetic approach to the study of intonation, defined as the ensemble of pitch variations in speech. It brings together in a single volume a detailed explication of the stylization method used in the analysis of intonation; theoretical insights and the experimental evidence that supports them, the results of physiological measurements that substantiate hypotheses about the production of intonation; and applications arising from the research. Johan't Hart, Rene Collier and Antonie Cohen argue that a perception-oriented approach, carried out by studying the perceptual consequences of deliberate manipulations of the speech signal, is the only way in which it can be decided what, out of the abundant information in the acoustic domain, is important for the listener and hence may be relevant for communication. The method they employ is fruitful not only for the analysis of Dutch, but also of British English, German and Russian intonation.