粤语声调与降势音高

Hong Kong Cantonese Lexical Tones and Declining Intonation

文章通过声学实验分析香港粤语声调在不同言语形式中(包括单字调、语流中及唱歌时)的语音变体。实验结果显示单字调实际上是声调与降势音高的叠加。降势音高是说话时的一种默认的语调,附加于单字调和语流中,传统所认为的香港粤语"平调"实际上都显现出一定程度的下降趋势。文章进而提出香港粤语中声调和语调的关系,不仅是音阶叠加的"代数和",还是调形叠加的"代数和"。

This study investigates systematically the pitch patterns of Hong Kong Cantonese lexical tones in isolated citation form, continuous speech and singing context through acoustic experiments. The results show that tones in isolated citation form are the algebraic sum of canonical tones and a declining intonation, which is a default intonation in speaking speech （including both isolated citation form and continuous speech）. Consequently, the acoustic contours of the putative ＂level＂ tones in Hong Kong Cantonese exhibit a slight falling tendency. We further propose that the ＂algebraic sum＂ of tone and intonation refers to both pitch register and pitch contour.