On the Theoretical Status of “the Baseline” in Modelling Intonation

Abstract

The “baseline”, as an aspect of fundamental frequency (F_o) declination, is commonly defined as a straight (often logarithmic) line fitted to the valleys in the F_o contour. In a recent study, in line with a good deal of past work on declination, Terken (1991) assumed that the baseline so defined would represent a reference value for normalizing the perceived prominence of pitch accents. The results of the study did not bear out this assumption, but the assumption was not called into question, and instead certain paradoxical conclusions were suggested. In this paper it is shown that the paradoxical conclusions are unnecessary if the reference value is not equated with the traditional baseline, but is assumed to be more abstract, i.e., less overtly manifested in the actual contour. This has already been proposed in a number of recent models of intonational phonology.

Keywords

intonation declination prominence

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