Appositive Relative Clauses and their Prosodic Realization in Spoken Discourse: a Corpus Study of Phonetic Aspects in British English Cyril Auran & Rudy.

Appositive Relative Clauses and Appositive Relative Clauses and their Prosodic Realization in their Prosodic Realization in

Spoken Discourse:Spoken Discourse: a Corpus Study of Phonetic Aspects a Corpus Study of Phonetic Aspects

in British Englishin British English

Cyril Auran & Rudy LoockCyril Auran & Rudy LoockLaboratoire Laboratoire Savoirs, Textes, LangageSavoirs, Textes, Langage

Université Lille III – CNRS UMR 8163Université Lille III – CNRS UMR 8163

IntroductionIntroduction

Global project: Global project:

- relate discourse structure/functions & prosodyrelate discourse structure/functions & prosody- one specific syntactic structure : Appositive one specific syntactic structure : Appositive

Relative Clauses (ARCs)Relative Clauses (ARCs)- differences in pragmatic functions => differences differences in pragmatic functions => differences

in morphosyntactic and semantic characteristics, in morphosyntactic and semantic characteristics, andand in phonetic/phonological differences in phonetic/phonological differences

MethodologyMethodology

2 spoken British English corpora:2 spoken British English corpora:• Aix-MARSECAix-MARSEC (cf. Auran, Bouzon & Hirst 2004): (cf. Auran, Bouzon & Hirst 2004):

BBC recordings from the 1980sBBC recordings from the 1980s

53 different speakers53 different speakers

5h30 of natural sounding but scripted 5h30 of natural sounding but scripted EnglishEnglish

• ICE-GBICE-GB (cf. Greenbaum 1996): (cf. Greenbaum 1996):

1,000,000 words of written & spoken 1,000,000 words of written & spoken English English from the 1990sfrom the 1990s

Unscripted, spontaneous English sub-corpusUnscripted, spontaneous English sub-corpus

Audio files unavailable for the present studyAudio files unavailable for the present study

MethodologyMethodology

Prosodic marking of elements within Loock’s Prosodic marking of elements within Loock’s (2003, 2005, 2006) taxonomy of ARCs depending (2003, 2005, 2006) taxonomy of ARCs depending on their discourse functions:on their discourse functions:

Discourse annotationDiscourse annotation: discourse function, information : discourse function, information status of ARC and MC, syntactic characteristicsstatus of ARC and MC, syntactic characteristics

Prosodic annotationProsodic annotation: semi-automatic analysis of the : semi-automatic analysis of the corresponding recordings using corresponding recordings using originaloriginal scripts with scripts with PraatPraat

Today’s paper : preliminary results and Today’s paper : preliminary results and tendencies concerning prosodic characteristics of tendencies concerning prosodic characteristics of 2 types of ARCs within Loock’s taxonomy2 types of ARCs within Loock’s taxonomy

1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse

Positive definition of ARCs Positive definition of ARCs (see (1a) (see (1a) vs.vs. Determinative Determinative Relative Clauses (1b))Relative Clauses (1b)) in terms of discourse functions in terms of discourse functions

(1)(1)a. a. The people of OzThe people of Oz, who were scared of the Witch of the East,, who were scared of the Witch of the East, were relieved when Dorothy’s porch crushed her to death.were relieved when Dorothy’s porch crushed her to death. (ARC) (ARC)

b. b. The people of Oz The people of Oz who were scared of the Witch of the who were scared of the Witch of the EastEast were relieved when Dorothy’s porch crushed her to death. were relieved when Dorothy’s porch crushed her to death. (DRC)(DRC)

3 main categories 3 main categories (see diagram in Proceedings p.20, Fig.1): (see diagram in Proceedings p.20, Fig.1): • Relevance ARCsRelevance ARCs• Subjectivity ARCsSubjectivity ARCs• Continuative ARCsContinuative ARCs

1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse

Relevance ARCs :Relevance ARCs : The speaker needs to convey information The speaker needs to convey information known by some of her/his addresees only : known by some of her/his addresees only : need for a compromise to optimize the need for a compromise to optimize the relevance of the antecedent and/or the relevance of the antecedent and/or the subject-predicate relation within the MC for no subject-predicate relation within the MC for no gratuitous effort (see Sperber & Wilson)gratuitous effort (see Sperber & Wilson)

(2)(2) a. a. he was convinced # the battle # for the hearts # and he was convinced # the battle # for the hearts # and minds of the people # was being won # especially # among the minds of the people # was being won # especially # among the Ovambo # Ovambo # who form the majority # of SWAPO's supportwho form the majority # of SWAPO's support

b. b. normally visitors to the state department require normally visitors to the state department require credentials # and even then # they have to pass through metal credentials # and even then # they have to pass through metal detectors # but twenty year old # Edward Steven Doster # detectors # but twenty year old # Edward Steven Doster # managed to evade the security arrangements # and carry # a managed to evade the security arrangements # and carry # a collapsible rifle # inside # and up to the seventh floor # collapsible rifle # inside # and up to the seventh floor # where the where the secretary of state # has his officessecretary of state # has his offices

1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse

Subjectivity ARCs : Subjectivity ARCs : The speaker needs to convey information The speaker needs to convey information that represents a comment, a judgement, or that represents a comment, a judgement, or an assessment, by themselves or somebody an assessment, by themselves or somebody else.else.The ARC establishes a discrepancy with the The ARC establishes a discrepancy with the discourse topic (referential discourse topic (referential vs.vs. interpretative interpretative level).level).

(3) a. (3) a. Israelis # have sympathy and liking for Americans # Israelis # have sympathy and liking for Americans # which is just as well # since the country is swarming # with which is just as well # since the country is swarming # with transatlantic visitorstransatlantic visitors

b. b. most of them were made of nylon # and imported # most of them were made of nylon # and imported # which I found very very strangewhich I found very very strange

1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse

Continuative ARCs : Continuative ARCs : • Already defined by Jespersen (1970) and Already defined by Jespersen (1970) and

Cornilescu (1981) among others but Cornilescu (1981) among others but definitions not interchangeabledefinitions not interchangeable

• Narrate an event successive to a first event Narrate an event successive to a first event (MC) : ‘make narrative time move forward’ (MC) : ‘make narrative time move forward’ with a possible causality link.with a possible causality link.

(4)(4) a.a. northern Scotland will have occasional light rain northern Scotland will have occasional light rain which which will be followed during the day by colder but still mainly cloudy will be followed during the day by colder but still mainly cloudy weather # with a few sleet and snow showersweather # with a few sleet and snow showers

b. b. the first book he took from the library was Darwin's # the first book he took from the library was Darwin's # Origin of Species # Origin of Species # which inspired him with the dream of which inspired him with the dream of becoming a geologistbecoming a geologist

……/…/…

1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse1. Appositive Relative Clauses and their Functions in Discourse

HierarchisationHierarchisation of the informational contents of the informational contents (ARC+MC) different from other categories:(ARC+MC) different from other categories:

narrative dynamism traditionally restricted narrative dynamism traditionally restricted to independent clauses (Depraetere 1996), to independent clauses (Depraetere 1996), informational contents on the same levelinformational contents on the same level

Are continuatives independent clauses?Are continuatives independent clauses?

(cf. Ross 1967, Emonds 1979, McCawley 1982, (cf. Ross 1967, Emonds 1979, McCawley 1982, Fabb 1990 among others), who express this idea Fabb 1990 among others), who express this idea for ARCs as a whole.for ARCs as a whole.

=> Prosodic investigation : are ARCS realized => Prosodic investigation : are ARCS realized with the intonation contour of an independent or with the intonation contour of an independent or subordinate clause?subordinate clause?

2. Prosodic analysis | Fundamental prosodic conceptions2. Prosodic analysis | Fundamental prosodic conceptions

Di Cristo’s (2000) conception of prosody as a Di Cristo’s (2000) conception of prosody as a macro-systemmacro-system

4 interrelated but independently analysable 4 interrelated but independently analysable acoustically rooted systems (Auran 2004):acoustically rooted systems (Auran 2004):

Tonal aspectsTonal aspects Temporal aspectsTemporal aspects IntensityIntensity Voice qualityVoice quality

2. Prosodic analysis | Prosodic representations2. Prosodic analysis | Prosodic representations

Time (s)0 2.17

60

250

Time (s)0 2.17188

60

250

Original F0

Resynthesized F0 (MOMEL)

2. Prosodic analysis | Prosodic dimensions2. Prosodic analysis | Prosodic dimensions

2 types of dimensions within prosodic systems:• “linear” : succession of F0 ups and downs (or intensity)

• “orthogonal” dimensions (level and span; cf. Ladd 1996)

Differences in levels Differences in spans

2. Prosodic analysis | Data extractions2. Prosodic analysis | Data extractions

Discourse annotationDiscourse annotation• 50 ARCs :50 ARCs :

33 Relevance33 Relevance 8 Subjectivity8 Subjectivity 1 Continuative1 Continuative 4 Relevance/Subjectivity4 Relevance/Subjectivity 2 Ambiguous continuative2 Ambiguous continuative 2 Unidentified2 Unidentified

• 5 discourse parameters:5 discourse parameters: ARC typeARC type Position (initial/medial/final)Position (initial/medial/final) Information status of antecedentInformation status of antecedent Information status of ARCInformation status of ARC Phrastic status of antecedentPhrastic status of antecedent

2. Prosodic analysis | Data extractions2. Prosodic analysis | Data extractions

Prosodic annotation : 48 parametersProsodic annotation : 48 parameters• Tonal system (32):Tonal system (32): ARC mean F0 (Htz + semitones or ST), ARC ARC mean F0 (Htz + semitones or ST), ARC

minimum F0 (Htz + ST), ARC maximum F0 (Htz + ST), ARC register minimum F0 (Htz + ST), ARC maximum F0 (Htz + ST), ARC register span (Htz + ST), ARC onset (Htz + ST), ARC offset (Htz + ST), previous span (Htz + ST), ARC onset (Htz + ST), ARC offset (Htz + ST), previous IU mean F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU minimum F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU IU mean F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU minimum F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU maximum F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU register span (Htz + ST), previous maximum F0 (Htz + ST), previous IU register span (Htz + ST), previous IU offset (Htz + ST), next IU mean F0 (Htz + ST), next IU minimum F0 IU offset (Htz + ST), next IU mean F0 (Htz + ST), next IU minimum F0 (Htz + ST), next IU maximum F0 (Htz + ST), next IU register span (Htz (Htz + ST), next IU maximum F0 (Htz + ST), next IU register span (Htz + ST), next IU onset (Htz + ST), difference between previous IU offset + ST), next IU onset (Htz + ST), difference between previous IU offset and ARC onset (ST), difference between ARC offset and next IU onset and ARC onset (ST), difference between ARC offset and next IU onset (ST)(ST)

• Temporal system (10):Temporal system (10): ARC duration (raw and normalised), previous ARC duration (raw and normalised), previous IU duration (raw and normalised), next IU duration (raw and IU duration (raw and normalised), next IU duration (raw and normalised), difference between previous IU normalised duration and normalised), difference between previous IU normalised duration and ARC normalised duration, difference between ARC normalised duration ARC normalised duration, difference between ARC normalised duration and next IU normalised duration, silence duration before ARC, silence and next IU normalised duration, silence duration before ARC, silence duration after ARCduration after ARC

• Intensity system (6):Intensity system (6): mean of ARC global intensity, standard mean of ARC global intensity, standard deviation of ARC global intensity, mean of previous IU global intensity, deviation of ARC global intensity, mean of previous IU global intensity, standard deviation of previous IU global intensity, mean of next IU standard deviation of previous IU global intensity, mean of next IU global intensity, standard deviation of next IU global intensityglobal intensity, standard deviation of next IU global intensity

= 53 observations per ARC= 53 observations per ARC

3. Results | ARCs as a whole3. Results | ARCs as a whole

Tonal aspects:Tonal aspects:

Register level in ARCs (-0.61 ST) significantly lower than in Register level in ARCs (-0.61 ST) significantly lower than in preceding (0.21 ST) and following (0.09 ST) IUspreceding (0.21 ST) and following (0.09 ST) IUs

= = typicaltypical of parentheticals (Wichmann 2000) of parentheticals (Wichmann 2000)But:But:

Register span in ARCs not significantly different from Register span in ARCs not significantly different from preceding and following IUspreceding and following IUs

Onset differential displays unusual positive value (mean = Onset differential displays unusual positive value (mean = 2.24 ST), commonly associated with discourse discontinuity2.24 ST), commonly associated with discourse discontinuity

= = atypicalatypical of parentheticals of parentheticals

3. Results | ARCs as a whole3. Results | ARCs as a whole

Temporal aspects:Temporal aspects:

No significant difference in speeh rates between ARCs and No significant difference in speeh rates between ARCs and preceding/following IUspreceding/following IUs

Intensity:Intensity:

No significant differences between ARCs and No significant differences between ARCs and preceding/following IUspreceding/following IUs

=> Complex interplay of production and interpretation => Complex interplay of production and interpretation constraints : ARCs show characteristics both traditional to constraints : ARCs show characteristics both traditional to and atypical of parentheticalsand atypical of parentheticals

3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs

! ! Results presented here reflect but tendencies: Results presented here reflect but tendencies: need for formal statistical testingneed for formal statistical testing

But results seem to indicate prosodic differences But results seem to indicate prosodic differences that can be interpreted as differences in that can be interpreted as differences in discourse functions.discourse functions.

In particular, results seem to indicate In particular, results seem to indicate strongerstronger discourse discontinuity for subjectivity discourse discontinuity for subjectivity ARCsARCs..

3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs

Similar register levels and spans:Similar register levels and spans:

3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs

relevance = 1.80STrelevance = 1.80ST

subjectivity=2.23STsubjectivity=2.23ST

Higher onset value for subjectivity ARCs:Higher onset value for subjectivity ARCs:

3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs

Similar intensity span valuesSimilar intensity span values Lower intensity level values for Lower intensity level values for

subjectivity ARCs (59.78 dB subjectivity ARCs (59.78 dB vs. vs. 61.04 dB)61.04 dB)

3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs3. Results | Differences between types of ARCs

Speech rate:Speech rate:

• Relevance: -0.178Relevance: -0.178• Subjectivity: -0.043Subjectivity: -0.043

4. Discussion4. Discussion

Surprisingly atypical characteristics of ARCs as a Surprisingly atypical characteristics of ARCs as a whole seem to go along with a syntactic whole seem to go along with a syntactic behaviour and a semantic interpretation behaviour and a semantic interpretation characteristic of independent clauses:characteristic of independent clauses:

register spanregister span intensity spanintensity span speech ratespeech rate

= typical of classical IUs realizing = typical of classical IUs realizing independent clausesindependent clauses

= link with their discourse functions = link with their discourse functions (especially continuative)?(especially continuative)?

4. Discussion4. Discussion

Relevance & Subjectivity ARCs show discourse Relevance & Subjectivity ARCs show discourse discontinuity through high onset values.discontinuity through high onset values.

Even stronger for subjectivity ARCs : more Even stronger for subjectivity ARCs : more important rupture with discourse topicimportant rupture with discourse topic

cf. shift between referential and cf. shift between referential and interpretative levels : the information conveyed in interpretative levels : the information conveyed in a subjectivity ARC is somehow more a subjectivity ARC is somehow more « peripheral » than that in a relevance ARC.« peripheral » than that in a relevance ARC.

Lower intensity level values for subjectivity ARCs: Lower intensity level values for subjectivity ARCs: sometimes found within subjective episodes as an sometimes found within subjective episodes as an idiosyncratic strategy (Di Cristo idiosyncratic strategy (Di Cristo et al. et al. 2004) 2004)

4. Discussion4. Discussion

Clear-cut differences in Clear-cut differences in speech ratesspeech rates, however, , however, cannot be analysed in terms of discourse cannot be analysed in terms of discourse functions : influence of a syntactic parameter functions : influence of a syntactic parameter (sentential or non-sentential antecedent).(sentential or non-sentential antecedent).

As most subjectivity ARCs qualify a sentential As most subjectivity ARCs qualify a sentential antecedent (9 out of 10), the 2 parameters are antecedent (9 out of 10), the 2 parameters are difficult to separate.difficult to separate.

=> Further research required=> Further research required

5. Conclusion5. Conclusion

This preliminary study clearly shows that This preliminary study clearly shows that various discourse functionsvarious discourse functions associated associated with one specific syntactic structure give with one specific syntactic structure give way to way to differences in prosodic differences in prosodic realizationrealization..

Prosodic markers can serve as Prosodic markers can serve as input input constraintsconstraints influencing the pragmatic influencing the pragmatic interpretation of one syntactic structure in interpretation of one syntactic structure in discourse.discourse.

5. Conclusion5. Conclusion

This work also questions the traditional This work also questions the traditional boundary between independent and boundary between independent and embedded clauses, for which ARCs are embedded clauses, for which ARCs are clearly problematic.clearly problematic.

5. Conclusion5. Conclusion

Further research:Further research:• Extended description of the prosodic Extended description of the prosodic

characteristics of ARCs in relation to characteristics of ARCs in relation to their discourse functions.their discourse functions.

• Tackle the independent/embedded Tackle the independent/embedded status of ARCs from a prosodic point of status of ARCs from a prosodic point of view, through the study of continuative view, through the study of continuative ARCs in particular.ARCs in particular.

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]@univ-lille3.fr

[email protected]@univ-lille3.fr