1) Introduction 1) Introduction to to

research topic research topic

Thesis: There is a Thesis: There is a difference between difference between

the prosodic the prosodic propertiesproperties of: of:

a) a) contrastive Focuscontrastive Focus

and and

b) b) presentational presentational FocusFocus

distinction is not construed as the distinction is not construed as the realization of distinct tonal morphemes realization of distinct tonal morphemes

Suggestion: The difference is present Suggestion: The difference is present

in in the interface the interface informational/syntactic informational/syntactic

structure and can be structure and can be realized in the realized in the

phonological phonological representation.representation.

Two different kind of Two different kind of sentences will be used for sentences will be used for

the research:the research: With contrastive Focus:With contrastive Focus:

like: Mary buys and Bill like: Mary buys and Bill sellssells picturespictures

of Elvis Presley.of Elvis Presley.

With presentational Focus:With presentational Focus:

like: Bill like: Bill sellssells pictures of pictures of ElvisElvis

Presley. Presley.

! ! Both kind of sentences need Both kind of sentences need to have a direct object at the to have a direct object at the

end of the sentence! end of the sentence! ExplanationExplanation::

A distinction in phonological A distinction in phonological representation couldrepresentation could

be neutralized in cases where a be neutralized in cases where a particular Focusparticular Focus

(here: the Focus verb) is the last (here: the Focus verb) is the last Focus (followedFocus (followed

only by given, unaccented material). only by given, unaccented material).

To ensure that the first To ensure that the first kind of sentences contain a kind of sentences contain a

contrastive Focus on the contrastive Focus on the second verbsecond verb

the speakers who perform the speakers who perform the sentences make use of the sentences make use of

the the

RIGHT NODE RAISINGRIGHT NODE RAISING

Right Node Raising Right Node Raising (RNR)(RNR)

pair of contrastive Focus elements pair of contrastive Focus elements (here: two contrastive verbs, like (here: two contrastive verbs, like buybuy and and sellsell))

discourse new syntactic complement discourse new syntactic complement (“right- node-raised“ object) (here: (“right- node-raised“ object) (here: pictures of Elvis Presley)pictures of Elvis Presley)

both contrastive verbs are related to both contrastive verbs are related to the syntactic complementthe syntactic complement

Mary buys ____ and Bill sells Mary buys ____ and Bill sells pictures of Elvis Presley.pictures of Elvis Presley.

Syntactic analysis: The first verb is followed Syntactic analysis: The first verb is followed by anby an

empty position whereas the empty position whereas the

“ “right-node-raised“ objectright-node-raised“ object

appears in the normal appears in the normal position position

for a complement of the for a complement of the verb.verb.

the right verb appears in the same the right verb appears in the same

syntactic structure context as the syntactic structure context as the

presentational verb in the presentational verb in the corresponding corresponding

simple sentence:simple sentence:

Bill Bill sellssells pictures of Elvis Presley. pictures of Elvis Presley.

RNR-sentence and RNR-sentence and corresponding simplecorresponding simple

sentence provide a good context sentence provide a good context toto

compare:compare:

contrastive Focuscontrastive Focus

to to

presentational Focuspresentational Focus

2) Methodological 2) Methodological detailsdetails

3 speakers (not informed about the task)3 speakers (not informed about the task) read two repetitions of dialogue containing read two repetitions of dialogue containing

either the RNR-sentence or the corresponding either the RNR-sentence or the corresponding simple sentencesimple sentence

two weeks break between reading of RNR-two weeks break between reading of RNR-sentence and simple sentencesentence and simple sentence

a radio interview format is used:a radio interview format is used: author = interviewerauthor = interviewer speaker = intervieweespeaker = interviewee Praat program is used for recordingPraat program is used for recording

Reading materialsReading materials

9 RNR-sentences (with 9 RNR-sentences (with contrastive Focus on the verb)contrastive Focus on the verb)

4 corresponding simple 4 corresponding simple sentences (with presentational sentences (with presentational Focus on the verb)Focus on the verb)

Methods of analysisMethods of analysis

Pitch work program was used to Pitch work program was used to make pitch tracks.make pitch tracks.

ToBi transcription was madeToBi transcription was made Break indices were observedBreak indices were observed

3) Results3) Results

a. RNR-sentences a. RNR-sentences with contrastive with contrastive

FocusFocus

Junctural properties of Junctural properties of FocusFocus

in 90%: substantial phrase break in 90%: substantial phrase break after contrastive Focus verbafter contrastive Focus verb

in 50%: very big break (usually in 50%: very big break (usually occurs between sentences)occurs between sentences)

Tonal propertiesTonal properties

pitch accent, in 82%: pitch accent, in 82%: L+H*L+H* edge tone on the right, in 89%: edge tone on the right, in 89%: L-L- L plateauL plateau extending inwards from extending inwards from

the right edge of the verb the right edge of the verb

typical pattern of Focus, typical pattern of Focus, refered to as refered to as

duncecapduncecap, in this case right , in this case right visoredvisored

3) Results3) Results

b. simple sentences b. simple sentences with with

presentational presentational FocusFocus

Main observationsMain observations

fewer and shorter phrase breaks fewer and shorter phrase breaks (13% of substantial phrase break (13% of substantial phrase break compared to 90%)compared to 90%)

less evidence of a right edge tone less evidence of a right edge tone (13% compared to 89%)(13% compared to 89%)

H* predominates (73% compared to H* predominates (73% compared to 10%) 10%)

Example: Example: Remanipulating Remanipulating lacks lacks L+L+ , , L plateau L plateau

and right edge toneand right edge tone L- L- in the simple in the simple

sentence, but shows all this criterionssentence, but shows all this criterions

in the RNR-sentence.in the RNR-sentence.

presentational Focus lacks the duncecap pattern (esp. the L-edge tone & the following phrase break)

Contrastive Focus and Contrastive Focus and presentational Focus in presentational Focus in

prosodically final positionprosodically final position The duncecap pattern described for The duncecap pattern described for

contrastive Focus also appears when thecontrastive Focus also appears when the

contrastive verb is not followed by contrastive verb is not followed by furtherfurther

accented material.accented material. The presentational Focus shows a The presentational Focus shows a

difference in final position. The H* then is difference in final position. The H* then is followed by a sentence final L-. followed by a sentence final L-.

It is most informative and It is most informative and instructive toinstructive to

compare compare contrastive Focuscontrastive Focus and and presenta-presenta-

tional Focustional Focus in medial in medial position.position.