Intonational variation in Spanish

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

AbstractThis chapter offers an overview of intonational patterns in Spanish within the Autosegmental Metrical model. In all sections, both cross-dialectal patterns and differences among dialects are pointed out. In broad-focus statements, usually there is a fall throughout the syllable with nuclear accent. A rise and fall within this syllable conveys greater emphasis. In prenuclear accents, the general tendency is to have very late peaks, but this tendency is less prevalent in some varieties. Spanish dialects differ in their unmarked yes-no questions. One contour, found for instance in Madrid and Mexico City, has a low tone on the syllable with nuclear accent, followed by a final rise. The other main contour, typical of Caribbean and Canarian varieties, has a high plateau up to the last stressed syllable, where it falls. In wh-questions, there are less clear dialectal distinctions. Finally, there appears to be no unambiguous imperative intonation, even though imperatives are often segmentally identical to declaratives.