2. What key is
Pitch movement = Tone
Pitch level = Key
Relative to each speaker (idiosyncratic)
Due to the pitch range of their voice
3. What key is
The voice range of a speaker
Emotional Voice range – high key
Emphatic voice range – high key
Normal voice range – mid / low key
Emphatic voice range
Emotional Voice range
4. Characteristics of key
•It is idiosyncratic
•It is sociocultural
•It can be exploited for emotional purposes
•It operates within tone units and across
them (paratones: discourse structure)
5. Types of key
To convey linguistic meaning, speakers
exploit pitch contrasts
In English
3 pitch contrasts
6. Types of key
High key
3 pitch contrasts Mid key
Low key
7. Meanings of Key
High key
•Contrast between 2 opposed ideas
“It isn´t clever to drive fast, it´s irresponsible.”
•Contrast between 2 degrees
“I didn´t wait long, I waited for centuries.”
•Topic nomination (paratones: discourse structure)
“ Now then…” “ Very well…” “ Let´s pass on to…”
8. Meanings of Key
Mid key
Additive
“I´m going to visit New York, and then I’ll fly to Paris …”
* Mid key bears no special notation since it is the default type of key.
9. Meanings of Key
Low key
•Equative: similar meaning to antecedent idea
“Next Tuesday we’re not having lessons, it’s a holiday.”
phrase / clause in apposition
“Shakespeare, England’s most famous writer, was born in…”
•Aside: personal opinion, almost inaudible or unimportant
“I’ve never been to Peru – and I don´t think I ever will.”
•Topic termination (paratones: discourse structure)
10. Did you know…?
We use
the 3 pitch contrasts
in Spanish as well !
Can you think of examples?
