Intonation and polar questions in Greek revisited

Abstract

This is a study of intonation and polar questions in Greek. The results indicate that there is a rising-falling tonal structure at the right edge of polar questions. However, the alignment of both tonal rising and tonal peak depend on the position of focus as well as lexical stress. Thus, in the context of initial and medial focus productions, the tonal rising is aligned with the onset of the final stressed syllable whereas, in the context of final focus production, the tonal rising is aligned with the onset of the last syllable regardless of the position of lexical stress. On the other hand, the tonal peak is aligned with the post-stressed syllable in the context of initial and medial focus productions whereas, in the context of final focus production, the tonal peak is aligned with the nucleus of the last syllable. However, the earlier the lexical stress production, the earlier the tonal rising as well as the tonal peak in all focus contexts.