Linguistics Quiz: Intonation and Syllables

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Questions and Answers

What is intonation primarily concerned with?

The vocabulary used in speech

The syntax of spoken language

The grammatical structure of sentences

The rise and fall of pitch (correct)

The schwa is always considered a strong vowel.

False

Name one feature that can make strong syllables more prominent.

Stress or accenting.

A syllable is a unit of speech with a ______ at its core.

vowel Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their correct descriptions:

Weak vowels = Vowels that are less prominent and include schwa, happy vowel, and thank-you vowel Strong vowels = Vowels or diphthongs that are more prominent Syllabic consonants = Consonants that can act as the nucleus of a syllable Prominence = The degree of noticeability of a syllable Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a weak vowel?

A (as in 'cat') Signup and view all the answers

Syllabic consonants require special pronunciation techniques.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common weak vowel in English?

Schwa Signup and view all the answers

Which feature of speech refers to elements like rhythm and stress that go beyond individual sounds?

Suprasegmental Signup and view all the answers

All strong syllables are also stressed syllables.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for adjusting for individual speaker differences in pitch?

Normalization Signup and view all the answers

In an intonation group, the last accented syllable is called the ______.

nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Match the terms with their definitions:

Pitch = Perception of the frequency of vocal fold vibration Syllabic consonant = Consonant that acts as the nucleus of a syllable Accent = Change in pitch on a stressed syllable Tail = Part of the intonation group after the nucleus Signup and view all the answers

Which syllable pattern is typical for weak syllables?

They contain a schwa sound. Signup and view all the answers

The nuclear accent is always the most prominent syllable in a word.

False Signup and view all the answers

What process occurs when the past tense of some verbs is pronounced with a schwa?

Stress reduction Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Intonation

Intonation is about the rise and fall of pitch in spoken language.
It is a suprasegmental feature, operating on a larger scale than individual sounds.
Intonation is communicated through changes in loudness, length, and pitch.
Pitch is the perception of vocal fold vibration frequency, graphically represented on a stave.
Brains normalize pitch across speakers.
Intonation is a learnable skill, not requiring musical ability.

Syllables

A syllable is a unit of speech centered around a vowel (a "pulse of speech").
Vowels alone can be syllables.
Syllables are categorized as weak/reduced or strong/full.
Weak syllables use one of three weak vowels: schwa, happy vowel, and thank-you vowel.
Strong syllables contain other vowels or diphthongs.
Prominence is the degree of a syllable's noticeability.
Strong syllables can be stressed, creating a rhythmic beat.
Stressed syllables have an accent, a pitch change, to further distinguish their prominence.

Vowels and Syllabic Consonants

Schwa (ə) is the most common English weak vowel.
Other weak vowels include the happy vowel (ɪ) and thank-you vowel (ʊ).
Accurate pronunciation of weak vowels is crucial.
Syllabic consonants act as the syllable nucleus, replacing vowels ("suddenly" - n, "middle" - l).

Catalan and Schwa

Catalan, like English, has schwa and related weak vowels.
Many languages with a wider vowel inventory have schwa.
Schwa's presence is linked to complex vowel systems.

Strong and Weak Syllable Transcription

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper" has 12 syllables.
Strong and weak syllables can be transcribed using phonetic symbols.
The sentence provides practice for identifying strong and weak syllables.

Key Terms

Suprasegmental/Prosodic: Features encompassing more than single sounds.
Pitch: Perception of vocal fold vibration frequency.
Normalization: Adjusting for speaker differences in pitch.
Stress: A syllable's prominence, creating a beat.
Accent: A pitch change on a stressed syllable, increasing prominence.
Syllabic consonant: A consonant functioning as a syllable nucleus.

Syllable Structure

Weak syllables contain a schwa; strong syllables have other vowels.
Strong syllables can be stressed but don't have to be.
Abbreviations often shorten words using stressed syllables.
Pronunciations often differ from spellings.
Past tense verbs sometimes use schwa.

Rhythm and Stress

English rhythm relies on stressed/unstressed syllable patterns.
Strong syllables create beats in speech rhythm.
Not all strong syllables are stressed.
Poetry and rhymes use rhythmic structures.

Accents and Intonation

Stressed syllables with accents are highly noticeable.
Accents are identified by pitch changes (rising/falling).
The nuclear accent is the final accent in an intonation group.
The nuclear accent determines the overall intonation contour.
Pre-nuclear accents are before the nuclear accent.
The nuclear accent isn't always the most prominent syllable.
An intonation group encompasses a meaningful part of speech with an accent and related elements.

Intonation Group Components

The nucleus is the last accented syllable in the group.
The tail is the part of the intonation group following the nucleus.
The pre-head is before the first accent in the group.

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Description

This quiz explores the essential features of intonation and syllables in spoken language. It covers the significance of pitch, loudness, and the structure of syllables, including weak and strong types. Test your understanding of these linguistic concepts!