Phonation variation and strategy of tone distinction: The case of Meiba Bai

The tonal system in Bai has attracted much attention for its complex combination of pitch and phonation features. What makes it more complicated is that the phonation varies across Bai dialects. In this paper, we examine the tonal quality of Meiba Bai by analyzing F0 (fundamental frequency), OQ (open quotient), and SQ (speed quotient), which are extracted from electroglottographic signals of 28 speakers. Results indicate that the contrast between tones is not only confirmed in F0 (corresponding to pitch), but also manifested in OQ and SQ that reflect phonation manner. Moreover, this paper introduces the concept of "strategy of tone distinction", which can be applied in investigating the phonation variation. It shows that the phonation variation is neither arbitrary nor motiveless in Meiba Bai. Variation is always within three primary strategies, and the non-primary strategies are adopted only when the individuals' physical condition of phonation degenerated.

摘要:

白语的声调是基频和发声方式共同起作用的音系范畴，而且发声参数存在方言变异。学界早已注意到白语声调系统的复杂性。本文采集了28个发音人的电声门阻抗信号(electroglottographic signals)，并从中提取了基频(F0)、开商(OQ)和速度商(SQ)三个参数，以此探讨美坝白语声调的性质。结果显示美坝白语声调的对立不仅体现在基频上，也体现在开商和速度商上，即也体现在发声方式上。本文还引入了"声调区分策略"来分析声调的发声变异现象。本文发现，美坝白语声调的发声变异并不是任意的，也不是毫无动因的：变异集中在三种主要声调区分策略上，而非主要区分策略的出现则与发音人的个体发声生理条件有关。