Project description
Investigating the prosodic typology of tonal languages
Prosody, the melody and rhythm of speech, varies across languages. Tonal languages use different tones to convey meaning, complicating the analysis of prosody and grammar. Tibeto-Burman languages are notable for their tone patterns, similar to those in African tone languages. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ITFprosd project will investigate the prosodic typology of tonal languages through a detailed analysis of Tsum, an endangered Tibeto-Burman language. It will combine fieldwork-based data collection with theoretical analysis, contributing to the literature on prosodic interfaces, prosodic typology, and Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG). TThe project will gain insights into Tibeto-Burman language typology and enrich current theoretical perspectives with empirical data analysed within the LFG framework.
Objective
Prosody is the melody and rhythm of speech. All languages use prosody in one way or another. English uses falling or rising tune (also known as intonation) in the expression of communicative functions such as making a statement, asking a question, and highlighting part of the utterance. Different tunes (also known as tone) are also used in tonal language to distinguish lexical and/or grammatical meanings along with intonation. Cross-linguistic examination of the prosodic patterns sees problems in analysing prosody and its dynamics with grammar and information structure in tonal languages where tone and intonation entangled by using the same acoustic parameter of pitch. Among tonal languages, Tibeto-Burman languages are significant in understanding prosodic typology because they are outliers in Asia, with tone functions and patterns that resemble African-type tone languages. ITFprosd will investigate the typology of prosody of tonal language and examine the prosodic interfaces through a fine-grinded analysis of an endangered Tibeto-Burman language of Tsum.
ITFprosd innovatively integrated fieldwork-based data collection with theoretical data analysis and will contribute three theoretical innovations addressed to the prosodic interface studies literature, the prosodic typology, and Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG). It employs a mixed method to provide empirically rich, granular analyses of prosody through the investigation of natural speech data in Tsum. One aim of the project is to understand how prosody interacts with other grammatical aspects in tonally complex language. The second contribution lies in its implication for prosodic typology. By conducting a comprehensive examination of the prosody in Tsum, what does Tsum tell us about the typology of Tibeto-Burman language and beyond? Thirdly, ITFprosd will enrich current theoretical perspectives on and advance the field of prosodic interface study with novel empirical data from Tsum using the framework of LFG.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.