Downdrift
Encyclopedia
In phonetics
, downdrift is the cumulative lowering of pitch over time due to interactions among tone
s, called downstep, in a tonal language. It is distinct from the general lowering of the pitch during prosodic
contours of a tonal or non-tonal language.
Two basic types of downdrift are found. In one, called discrete downdrift, when downstep occurs all tones shift downward, so that their relative difference in pitch remains constant; in the other, called tone terracing
, the pitch of the low tone remains at the lower end of the speaker's vocal range, while the other tones shift downward, so that their difference in pitch narrows.
It is very common for only the low tone to cause a downstep in pitch, whether the result is that all tones, including subsequent low tones, are downstepped, or whether only non-low tones are.
Pitch reset
is required in the first instance because the tones approach the lower end of the speaker's comfort range, and in the second because the tonal distinctions of the language start being lost.
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
, downdrift is the cumulative lowering of pitch over time due to interactions among tone
Tone (linguistics)
Tone is the use of pitch in language to distinguish lexical or grammatical meaning—that is, to distinguish or inflect words. All verbal languages use pitch to express emotional and other paralinguistic information, and to convey emphasis, contrast, and other such features in what is called...
s, called downstep, in a tonal language. It is distinct from the general lowering of the pitch during prosodic
Prosody (linguistics)
In linguistics, prosody is the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech. Prosody may reflect various features of the speaker or the utterance: the emotional state of the speaker; the form of the utterance ; the presence of irony or sarcasm; emphasis, contrast, and focus; or other elements of...
contours of a tonal or non-tonal language.
Two basic types of downdrift are found. In one, called discrete downdrift, when downstep occurs all tones shift downward, so that their relative difference in pitch remains constant; in the other, called tone terracing
Tone terracing
Tone terracing is a type of phonetic downdrift, where the high or mid tones, but not the low tone, shift downward in pitch after certain other tones...
, the pitch of the low tone remains at the lower end of the speaker's vocal range, while the other tones shift downward, so that their difference in pitch narrows.
It is very common for only the low tone to cause a downstep in pitch, whether the result is that all tones, including subsequent low tones, are downstepped, or whether only non-low tones are.
Pitch reset
Pitch reset
In speech, phonetic pitch reset occurs at the boundaries between prosodic units.Over the course of such units, the median pitch of the voice declines from its initial value, sometimes reaching the lower end of the speaker's vocal range. At this point it must reset to a higher level if the person...
is required in the first instance because the tones approach the lower end of the speaker's comfort range, and in the second because the tonal distinctions of the language start being lost.
External links
- Downdrift, Downstep, and Declination (Bruce Connell, 2001)