Constant "segmentaa anchoring" of F-o movements under changes in speech rate

This study develops the notion of the "segmental anchoring" of F-0 movement s, specifically, the finding that both the beginning and the end of a risin g pitch accent are anchored to specific points in segmental structure [Arva niti et al., J. Phonetics 26, 3-25 (1998)]. If there are segmental anchors for rising accents land if, as shown by Arvaniti ct al., the F-0 level of t he beginning and ending points is unaffected by the experimental manipulati ons), the anchors should be closer together as the speaking rate increases, and the rises should therefore be shorter and steeper. This was tested in two experiments in which speakers were asked to modify rate. The first expe riment confirmed the basic prediction that the duration of accentual F-0 ri ses is affected by changes in rate. The second experiment studied the align ment of the beginning and ending points with their hypothesized segmental a nchors. For all speakers there was a strong correlation between the duratio n of the rise and the time interval between the anchors, but only small and inconsistent effects of rate on alignment. Effects of rate on F-0 excursio n size were likewise small and inconsistent. The results support a model in which pitch accents consist of "tonal targets," and in which the alignment and F-0 level of tonal targets are what determine a pitch accent's shape. (C) 1999 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(99)01809-3].