Aspects of Welsh intonation

Abstract

This thesis aims to study the intonation of Welsh in terms of tho functions it fulfils within discourse. The analysis is corpus based, and the dialect studied is that of the Amman Valley/Llanelli area of Dyfed.

Intonation is seen as fulfilling a commanicative function within the discourse. and analysis is based initially on a Hallidayan model. Two major analytic levels are proposed for this approach:

1. An informational level, where the systems of information distribution and information focus operate;

2. a phonological level, where the four systems of tonality, tonicity, tons and key operate.

The way an utterance is divided into intonation units (tone-groups) makes up the system of tonality; the location within the tone-group of its most prominent syllable constitutes the system of tonicity; choice of a specifiable pitch direction within the tone-group makes up the system of tone; choice of one of three analytically separate pitch ranges within which each tone-group is uttered constitutes the system of key.

Certain relations of a non-biunique nature exist between corresponding systems of each level. Tonality is taken to be the phonological exponent of information distribution, which involves the division of a message into information units. Tonicity is taken to be the phonological exponent of information focus, which concerns the location within the information unit of its most informationally prominent constituent. Focus may be unmarked or marked, and marked focus generally indicates that information has preceded or is to follow in the discourse. A similar function is fulfilled by one of the terms from the tonal system, whilst choice of the relevant key can signal the beginning or continuation of a message unit.

Tonality and key can therefore be said to fulfill demarcative functions within the discourse, whilst tonicity and tone fulfill a cohesive function.