Intonation patterns of wh-questions from Chinese EFL learners

Abstract

The present study investigates Chinese EFL (English as a foreign language) learner's intonation pattern of wh-questions on the basis of AM theory.When the nuclear accent is at the end of the sentence, the American speakers tend to apply a falling tone (H*L) with either a low or high boundary tone.The Chinese learners usually apply the same falling tone (H*L) or a rising-falling tone (L*HL) on nuclear accent.However, the Chinese learners always produce a pre-nuclear accent on the word 'what'.Sometimes, the Chinese learners adopt a rising tone (L*H) on nuclear accent with a high boundary tone.When the nuclear accent is in the middle of the sentence, both the American and Chinese speakers use a falling tone (H*L) or a rising-falling tone (L*HL) on the nuclear accent.However, the Chinese learners emphasize some word after the nuclear accent without any prosodic boundaries between them This phenomenon indicates that the Chinese learners might put a post-nuclear accent on the words after the nuclear accent.