The intonation of yes/no and focus constructions in Navajo

Abstract

This study is a preliminary investigation of tone and intonation in yes/no and focus questions in Navajo (Southern Athabaskan). Navajo is a tone language. The Navajo verb stands as complete proposition, with complex morphological and morpho-syntactic structure. The word final stem is a content morpheme preceded by functional morphemes filling out its propositional content. This stem is marked by acoustic properties commonly associated with stress: longer, louder segments and pitch range expansion, resulting in a striking end-prominent profile [McDonough, Anthro. Ling. 41, 503–539 (1999)]. Preliminary studies indicated no apparent boundary tones. Research has shown that tone languages may use intonational and/or stress-related strategies (boundary tones, pitch-range expansion) to mark focus and yes/no questions. To investigate the acoustic properties of these constructions in Navajo, 12 native speakers were recorded reciting short statements followed by either yes/no questions (three types) or focus constructions. Both type constructions in Navajo are marked by pro and enclitic-like particles on/surrounding the (nonutterance final) NPs. Results indicate no differences in the F0 contour between statements and the contrasting constructions. This fact is arguably related to the NPs nonargument status in the grammar, possibly indicating a consequential interaction of morphology, morpho-syntax, and intonation in these type languages. [Work supported by NSF.]