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arXiv · 2608.05364

The interface of intonation and lexical tone: Boundary phenomena in Mandarin varieties

Cong Zhang·Yiya Chen
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Abstract

This chapter explores the intricate interplay between intonation and tone in Mandarin Chinese varieties, focusing on f0, the primary acoustic cue for both intonation and tone. The main empirical base is intonation boundary phenomena, where intonation and tone intersect and influence each other in conveying a range of sentence-level linguistic functions -- such as question vs. statement -- and a rich array of speakers' attitudinal information. Theoretical models and emerging techniques are also discussed to account for the observed interactions of tonal aspects and boundary phenomena to convey multiple levels of communicative meanings.

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Cong Zhang, Yiya Chen. 2026-08-05. The interface of intonation and lexical tone: Boundary phenomena in Mandarin varieties. https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.05364

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