Pitch accent distribution and tonal alignment in Swiss German and German children

Abstract

The acquisition of an intonation language necessitates to learn which words to accent, which pitch accents to choose and their correct realization (e.g., the alignment of tonal targets with the accented syllable). Languages differ in these respects, even when they are closely related: Adult speakers of Swiss German and Southern German differ in frequency of pitch accent choice (more L*+H in Swiss German) and the alignment of tonal targets (later in Swiss German). We investigate the choice and realization of rising pitch accents (L+H*, L*+H) by 2-to-3- year-old children from these languages (varieties spoken in the Cantone of Zurich and Baden-Wuerttemberg). We annotated productions from a semi-spontaneous naming task and compared pitch accent choice and alignment in disyllabic trochaic nouns. Results showed more L*+H in Swiss German compared to Southern German children, mirroring the adult pattern. The alignment of the starred tone (e.g., L* in L*+H) was influenced by the duration of the accented syllable (the longer, the later), but this pattern was modulated by pitch accent type and language: stronger effects of duration in Southern German L+H* and weaker effects in both Swiss German accents. We discuss the results in terms of the phonological system of the two languages.