Relationship between stress and F0 in Spanish

Abstract

The relationship between stress and F0 as manifested by the F0 curve in declarative and interrogative Spanish sentences is quantified. The material under study were the F0 curves of 20 declarative sentences and four yes‐no questions. The peaks and changes of F0 of stressed syllables were measured on the F0 curves and the duration of each segment on spectrograms. Three levels of stress were determined on several key content words. In declarative sentences the high level is manifested by the F0 maximum: 138.42 Hz, and by the greatest F0 change with respect to the preceding syllable: 30.42 Hz. The middle level presents the second F0 peak: 124.5 Hz and a smaller change: 26.5 Hz. The low level is marked by a greater vowel and consonant duration. The yes‐no questions show a greater F0 change and a higher overall frequency of the F0 curve with respect to statements. Therefore, the pattern of interrogative sentences cue distinguishes a question from a statement. Results suggest that stress is marked by different cues according to the level of stress of the content words and to its position within the F0 curve.