Twelve children (ages 4-11) with autism and 12 controls selected their preferred prosody of voice or a story passage recorded using monotonous, conversational, and enthusiastic prosodies. Significant preferences were found for 3 children with autism. Children were less likely to respond if a monotonous prosody was used. (Contains references.) (CR)

In this study, a new intonation battery, the Profiling Elements of Prosodic Systems Child Version (PEPS-C) was administered to 18 children with speech and/or language impairments (LI). PEPS-C examines phonetic and functional aspects of intonation in grammar, affect, interaction, and pragmatics. Results support the view that intonation is…

Hearing-impaired and normal hearing children in 2 age groups (5-6 years and 9-12 years) were observed for possible differences in their perception and production of intonation. Results indicated that imitation of intonation carried on nonsense syllables was not affected by age. Hearing-impaired subjects scored much lower than controls in imitating…

Ten adults with dysarthria of various etiologies, type, and severity were compared to age-matched and gender-matched nondysarthric speakers on 40 short sentences. Results indicated reduced intonation values for the dysarthric group and varying rates as a function of subject group and sentence type. Results suggest that dysarthria is a deficit in…

This paper examines current teaching models for intonation on questions, as exemplified in a range of published English-as-a-foreign-language teaching materials, and discusses one area of intonation on questions that is frequently neglected for teaching purposes: a falling tone on yes/no questions. Includes references. (JL)

A phrase-structural analysis of preverbal word orders in three Mayan languages (Tzotzil, Jakaltek, Tz'utujil) is presented. At the heart of the analysis is an account of intonational phrasing and the distribution of several intonational phrase clitics in Tzotzil and Jakaltek. (70 references) (Author/LB)

Sociolinguistic research on linguistic change, i.e., the use of high rising terminal contours (HRTs) in declarative clauses, is reported based on interviews from 75 inhabitants of Porirua. Results show that linguistic change is in progress, with HRTs favored by young Maori and young Pakeha women. Results are explained in terms of HRTs as positive…

Assesses Bolinger's distinctive contribution, a theory of intonation as an extra-grammatical phenomenon, and suggests how these fundamental insights can be built upon. (22 references) (GLR)

A study examined the influence of emphatic stress on word learning of 20 children (ages 6 to 9) with specific language impairments and 20 typical children. There were no significant stress effects for comprehension or recognition of novel words; however, children in both groups exhibited better word production when presented with emphatic stress.…

Studies intonation trends of wind instrumentalists with regard to harmonic intervals, including factors such as tuning system, location, interval type, direction of deviation from equal temperament, and group. Compares the performance of two groups, professionals and advanced students. Reports findings and discusses similarities to and differences…

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that visual information related to segmental versus prosodic aspects of speech is distributed differently on the face of the talker. Results indicate that information in the upper part of the talker's face is more critical for intonation pattern decisions than for decisions about word segments…

Cross-speaker variability in the use of prosodic features in intonation was investigated through analysis of adult speakers of English from London, England, using a new prosodic test battery (PEPS). PEPS is designed to elicit information about how speakers use prosodic features to realize different types of linguistic and communicative functions…

Temporal control has often been suspected to be a critical factor in intonation production. In particular, disturbance in the production of fundamental frequency (F0) associated with intonation in patients with aphasia has been attributed to a primary underlying deficit in speech timing. The present study examined the speech timing abilities of…

Forces applied to vocal fold tissue as the vocal folds collide may cause tissue injury that manifests as benign organic lesions. A novel method for measuring this quantity in humans in vivo uses a low-profile force sensor that extends along the length and depth of the glottis. Sensor design facilitates its placement and stabilization so that…

The aim of this study was to examine a form of sarcasm that has hardly been considered to date, sarcastic requests, at an earlier period of development than addressed in past developmental research. This article looked specifically at the role of intonation and context in sarcastic-request understanding by native French-speaking children ages 3 to…