The effect of non-conclusive melodic rises on Czech speech sounding French
The effect of non-conclusive melodic rises on Czech speech sounding French
Author(s): Tomáš Bořil, Pavel Šturm, Radek Skarnitzl, Marie Hévrová, Barbara KöpkeSubject(s): Language studies
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Filozofická fakulta, Vydavatelství
Keywords: cross-linguistic influence; intonation; L1 attrition; non-conclusive melody; speech perception
Summary/Abstract: This paper is based on a study of first language attrition in Czechs living in France, which reveals that Czech expatriates in France use prominent rises in non-conclusive intonation patterns in their native language. We manipulated the speech of six expatriates by reducing the fundamental frequency (f 0) range of non-conclusive rises in a phrase, and the speech of six Czech control speakers by expanding the f 0 range to mimic the French-like prominent rises. The manipulations served, alongside filler items, as the basis for a perception test in which 37 native Czech listeners assessed how much the speakers’ pronunciation manifested marks of a long-term stay in France. The results confirmed our hypothesis that expanding the control speakers’ f 0 range would increase the perceived effect of French. However, reducing the f 0 range in the expatriate group did not yield lower French-effect ratings, most likely due to the presence of other pronunciation features in their speech.
Journal: Linguistica Pragensia
- Issue Year: 32/2022
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 125-141
- Page Count: 17
- Language: English