汉语语调降阶的实验研究

Experimental studies on downstep in Chinese intonation

采用设计特定声调组合的实验室语句的方法,研究了汉语普通话语调降阶的规律。结果发现,在普通话语调中,同样存在自动降阶和非自动降阶两种音高现象。在有低音介入的非自动降阶中,低音对后音节音域的影响表现在使音域上限降低,音域的下限保持不变;因此汉语中的降阶是语调高音特征的表现;低音特征声调会使低音后的高音发生正向降低和低音前高音的逆向提高,并且这两种作用是可以相互包容的。在自动降阶中,高音线的下降趋势是线性的,它受重音位置及重读程度的影响,在发音人中有较大差异。与已有的其他语言降阶研究的结果相比,汉语的降阶率不是固定的,且降阶的作用范围并不只局限于同低音相邻的音节。

Downstep in pitch contour of Mandarin Chinese is examined using subtly designed sentences, by controlling tone combinations, The results show both automatic and non-automatic downstep exist in Putonghua. In non-automatic downstep, the low tone will compress downwards the pitch range of following syllables, and the main influence of downstep is on topline, Low tone will not only lower the topline behind it, but also raise the high tone before it, both effect can be compatible with each other in Chinese. In automatic downstep, the topline of intonational phrase pitch contour is presented as a linear downtrend. But there are different results among speakers because of the effect of stress. In addition to these, by comparing with the downstep in other tone or non-tone languages, in Chinese, the ratio of downstep is not constant, and the domain of downstep is not limited within the adjacent tones.