KEY PART III

TONE UNIT

(PROCLITIC SEGMENT)

TONIC SEGMENT

(ENCLITIC SEGMENT)

(ONSET) EXTENDED

TONIC SYLLABLE

MINIMAL

KEY

KEY

TONE

HIGH

MID

LOW

SIMPLE p/r

COMPLEX r+ / p+

The syllables before the tonic are not uttered in a monotone. There are three factors which affect the pitch range:
1-idiosyncratic- the nature of the individuals speakers vocal folds determines the limits of his/ her pitch range. 2-socio-cultural- the pitch range is also restricted to a social group. 3- emotional- speakers extend their normal range to express excitement, surprise, anger, or narrow it to express boredom and misery.

Pitch range provides a grat deal of information about the individual himself, the social background and his emotional state. Together with the sense selection, the speaker also makes key selection. In the system, there are also three key choices: HIGH MID LOW The choice of pitch level is independently meaningful. Key choices are made and recognised with respect to the comparable pitch choice of the immediately preceding tone unit. Each tone unit selects anew for pitch level Mid key is not defined as the norm for the speaker. Key choice ofr a given tone unit is realised once and only once in each tone unit. Key is an independent , simultaneous choice.

Example: LOST
|| ( HIGH KEY)

||He gambled ||and LOST ||

KEY)

( MID

LOST ||

( LOW KEY)

High key is marked by a noticeable step up in pitch level at the first prominent syllable in the TU. Its function is to mark the contents of the tone unit as being contrary to present expectations. ( X not Y ) When high key is used to correct or contradict someone, it is good practice to preced it by something said with referring tone (r).

Example- in close system items: A: What a pity it wasnt John. WAS John ||

B: || It
( the choice of HK, the speaker expressly contradicts a recent assertion or a projected belief or assumption, that it wasnt ) was wasnt

In open-class items- two alternatives JOHN || a) ||LOOK ||its JOHN ||

( John / Peter)

( John / x,y, z,etc- its John of all people)

b)|| LOOK || its

This choice marks the matter of the tone unit as aditional or additive ( x + y ) There is and relationship with what went before.

// He GAMbled// and LOST a FORtune //

Low key is marked with a step down in the pitch at the first prominent syllable in the tone unit. It is used to mark the content of the tone unit as just what the listener would have expected. It marks the matter of the tone unit as existentially equivalent ( x=y)

There is an implied or becauserelationship, or implied result or therefore relationship.

Example:
// He GAMbled // and
LOST //
( gambled = lost , as usual) // As it was RAINing // the MATCH was CANcelled//

(rain= cancelled)