Like a Square Peg in a Round Hole: Why Contour Shape Matters for Learning New Intonation Patterns

Résumé En

This study uses dialect imitation across typologically different prosodic systems to explore the type of phonetic detail that is accessible from recently experienced intonation patterns. Specifically, Singapore English (SgE) speakers imitated Yes/No questions produced by an American English (AmE) speaker. Although both varieties use a final rising contour in this context, the AmE contour involves a rightward inflection (S-like curvature), while the SgE contour is concave. We therefore used a 3rd-order polynomial fitting analysis to compare the degree of inflection in the SgE baseline tokens, the AmE contour, and the imitation tokens. The SgE speakers were clearly able to approximate the overall f0 scaling of the AmE pattern across different regions of the contour, however, they showed no robust tendency to approximate the higher order shape of the contour. This suggests that speakers could not hear the shape differences due to perceptual assimilation effects, in which case the imitated tokens are variants of native categories with adjustments to scaling parameters that better match the targets. Alternatively, SgE speakers may lack the articulatory practice needed to produce the inflection points. In either case, these findings reveal that new contour shapes are not immediately accessible to the perception and/or the production system.