PROSODIC PHRASING IN ELLIPTIC AND NON-ELLIPTIC COORDINATIONS

Gerrit Kentner
Universität Potsdam

ID 1088
[full paper]

This paper reports a prosodic difference between elliptic and non-elliptic coordinations in German. Findings of a speech production experiment indicate that ellipsis has an effect on prosodic phrasing and that speakers avoid phrase boundaries between an elliptic gap and its filler. The data is incompatible with accounts stating that phonetically empty material resurfaces in the form of increased segment duration and greater pitch excursion at the gap. The results are evaluated against the Sense Unit Condition on intonational phrasing.