Abstract

SANTOS, Vinícius Gonçalves dos  and  SVARTMAN, Flaviane Romani Fernandes. NUCLEAR TONAL PATTERNS OF NEUTRAL STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS IN THE ANGOLAN PORTUGUESE OF LIBOLO. Lingüística [online]. 2020, vol.36, n.1, pp.33-52.  Epub June 01, 2020. ISSN 2079-312X.  https://doi.org/10.5935/2079-312x.20200003.

Within the Autosegmental-Metrical approach to intonational analysis, we describe the nuclear tonal patterns of neutral statements and (yes/no and wh-) questions in the Angolan Portuguese as spoken in Libolo. Based on semi-spontaneous speech data, we found that statements mainly show a falling nuclear contour and can also be phrased in two intonational phrases, whose non-final nuclear contour is rising. Yes/no questions, which are morphosyntactically identical to statements, exhibit a rising or rising-falling tonal pattern that distinguish that sentence type from statements only prosodically.

In turn, wh-questions mostly present the falling tune of statements, and the difference between them is morphosyntactic, in the use of a question word. However, rising patterns are also found for wh-questions, conveying them both morphosyntactic and prosodic marks for interrogation. Regarding other varieties of Portuguese, the nuclear contours of neutral statements and questions in Libolo Portuguese, a variety in contact situation, always match with the prosodic system of Portuguese in general.

Keywords : Libolo Portuguese (Angola); intonation; nuclear contour; neutral statements and questions..

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