Suprasegmental Phonemes Flashcards
Suprasegmental
are sound modifications that signal meaning other than segmental phonemes (combinations of sounds).
Pitch
The vocal Levels at which sound is produced
2 A Raised 2
represnts the level of pitch known as Rising Pitch, used when we begin to speak.
3A superscript 3
represents the level of pitch (volume) when we are at the accented syllable of the word that gets most stress in an utterance.
1A superscript 1
represents the falling away of pitch as we come to the end of a grammatical unit.
4Level 4
is rarely used except in statements of strong fear, anger, excitement, etc.
The Dog at the Bone
2The dog ate the 3bo′ne1.↓
After the dance, the three giggle girls went to wendy’s.
2After the 3dance,2→2the three giggling cheerleaders went to 3We′ndy’s1.↓
In symbolizing a intonation contour, pitch should be marked in three places:
At the beginning of the contour (grammatical unit)
At the beginning of the syllable bearing the primary stress
At the end of the unit before the terminal (the punctuation mark indicating closure)
Two Patterns of Pitch
231 and 233 (232)
231
Used in giving commands
Used in questions that begin with a question word (Who, what, when, where, why, how, etc.)
Used in statements/declarative sentences
2Today is 3 Th’ursday1↓.
231
2Please shut the 3w′indow1.↓
231
2Who is that striking 3w′oman1?↓
231
233 (232) Pattern
Yes or No questions in question form
Yes or No questions in statement form
Initial grammatical units
2Are you going to the 3c′oncert tonight3?↑
233
2You are Mary’s 3b′rother3?
233
Stress
is the emphasis (or lack of emphasis) placed on a syllable.
Four Levels of Stress
Primary stress– denoted by a ‘
Secondary stress—denoted by a ^
Tertiary (or mid) stress—denoted by a `
Unaccented syllables—denoted by a ˘
Primary Stress
a ‘
Secondary Stress
a ^
Tertiary (or mid) stress
a `
Unaccented Syllables
a ˘
In a two-syllable noun, which syllable usually gets primary stress?
the first syllable
