Expression of Second Occurrence Focus in German

Abstract

In a production study on read German, we investigate the tonal, durational and articulatory parameters used in the marking of three different focus structures. Special attention is paid to target words in Second Occurrence Focus (SOF). Such words are both focussed and contextually given. Prominence in SOF items is compared to prominence in items which are focussed and new (First Occurrence Focus, FOF) and those which are in the Background. Results confirm previous findings that SOF is not marked by a pitch accent. However, we observe gradient but systematic adjustments of acoustic and articulatory parameters (word durations and temporal and spacial modifications of opening and closing gestures) leading to an increase in prominence from Background through SOF to FOF. The extent to which single speakers employ different strategies varies. Phonologically, we propose an analysis of SOF prominences as phrase accents.

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