The relative importance of initial/final pitch ratio and of pitch peak location for the perception of Serbo-Croation tone

Abstract

Ivic and Lehiste presented a number of acoustic factors which may be of importance for the perception of Serbo-Croatian tone. Purcell indicated that three of these factors regularly appeared across three statement and three question environments. Lehiste and Ivic showed, with perceptual data, that the ratio between the initial and final fundamental frequency in the accented syllable could be used by natives as a cue for tone perception. Purcell showed, with perceptual data, that the relative location of the fundamental frequency peak within the accented syllable could be used as a cue for tone perception. The present study will present the results of a multiple regression analysis of perceptual data from an experiment in which these two factors are combined and contrasted. The analysis to be presented will indicate the relative importance of initial/final fundamental frequency ratio and pitch peak location for the perception of Serbo-Croatian tone.