Intonational variation in Brazilian Portuguese: a phonological analysis of the nuclear contour in declarative and interrogative utterances

Authors

  • Joelma Castelo CLUL – Universidade de Lisboa
  • Sónia Frota CLUL – Universidade de Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26334/2183-9077/rapln1ano2016a8

Keywords:

intonation, declarative, yes-no question, intonational variation, Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract

In this paper we present a phonological analysis of the nuclear contour of declarative and interrogative utterances in Brazilian Portuguese, as spoken in 7 regions, along the Atlantic Coast - Paraíba, Sergipe, Bahia (North); Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro (Center), Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (South). Declaratives present a falling contour, with phonetic differences across varieties. As for interrogatives, more variation was found. Namely, two types of nuclear contours were observed: a rising contour in the North and a rising-falling in the Center-South. Unlike declaratives, the two interrogative patterns display a phonological continuum, in which the Center-Southern pattern spreads towards the North.

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Published

2016-10-01

How to Cite

Joelma Castelo, & Sónia Frota. (2016). Intonational variation in Brazilian Portuguese: a phonological analysis of the nuclear contour in declarative and interrogative utterances. Journal of the Portuguese Linguistics Association, (1), 143–168. https://doi.org/10.26334/2183-9077/rapln1ano2016a8

Issue

No. 1 (2016): Journal of the Portuguese Linguistics Association

Section

Articles

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