Declarative sentence intonation patterns in 8 swiss German dialects

Abstract

This study examines declarative sentence intonation contours in 8 vastly different Swiss German dialects by the application of the Command-Response model. Fundamental frequency patterns of a controlled declarative sentence are analyzed on the global and local level of intonation. The results provide evidence of a different patterning for the dialects in the context of how global and local level F0 is modulated. Findings of previous studies on natural Swiss German speech are essentially confirmed, at the same time, however, new trends emerge.