Rules for the realization of pitch accents

• Type H*L
• Type H*H
• Type H*M
• Type L*
• Type HL*
• Type L*H

Type H*L

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	17	early	low(0)	75

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	13-21	early	low(4-0)	55-115

After the high pitch target reached in the accented syllable, and before pitch drops to low in the posttonic part, a high level plateau with a varying duration from 40-85ms is often realized.

Type H*L also occurs as a reduced pitch accent with a smaller excursion size than the full accent. As a rule, a reduced realization of H*L does not reach a pitch target higher than 10 ST.

Type H*H

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	17	early	high(17)	75

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	15-20	early	high(17-13)	135-120

In posttonic H some declination can be observed, that is, pitch slightly falls after the high pitch target reached in the accented syllable. The limit of perceptual tolerance for this slightly falling pitch in posttonic H is -4 semitones.

Type H*M

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	15	varying	middle(10)	55

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	11-17	varying	middle(15-10)	40-95

Type H*M has a varying timing. In posttonic part M, pitch drops to mid and can be stretched out over a number of syllables. H*M also occurs as a reduced pitch accent in the sawtooth pattern. A reduced pitch accent H*M has a smaller excursion size than full pitch accent H*M and, as a rule, does not reach a pitch target higher than 10 ST.

Type L*

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	8	mostly early	low(0)	45

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
varying	3-16	mostly early	low/non-low (4-0)	15-70

Type HL*

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
high	9	mostly late	low(0)	50

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
high	5-13	mostly late	low/non-low (5-0)	30-80

In spontaneous speech, type HL*occurs also as the harmonica pattern: sequences of HL* with non-low posttonics (not reaching a speaker's low pitch level).

Types L* and HL* also occur as reduced pitch accents in the sawtooth pattern. Reduced pitch accents L* and HL* have a smaller excursion size than full pitch accents L* and HL*, and do not reach a speaker's low pitch level.

Type L*H

average values:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
high	6	mostly early	high(13)	35

limits of perceptual tolerance:

pretonics	*	timing	posttonics	rate of change
	pitch level in ST		pitch level in ST	ST/s
high	5-7	mostly early	high (7-17)	10-60

The low pitch target is usually 4 ST above a speaker's low pitch level, it hardly ever reaches the lowest pitch target of 0 ST. The posttonic rise is 9 ST (4-12 LPT). After the low pitch target and before the posttonic rise, a low level plateau is often observed with a varying duration from 50-120 ms.