L1 and L2 Serbian Accents: Analysis of Pitch Parameters

This paper examines realization of Serbian falling (FA) and rising (RA) pitch accents by Serbian and Russian speakers. The study is based on the analysis of disyllable words in initial and medial position of the statements. For each syllable of the disyllable word the set of pitch parameters was calculated, as well as F0 inter-syllable interval. The main statistical differences between realizations of FA and RA by L1 speakers are found with respect to the pitch parameters of the second (post-tonic) syllable and F0 inter-syllable interval. In the accented (first) syllable some L1 speakers don’t provide any FA/RA opposition regarding analyzed pitch parameters. This fact requires more evidence, because it raises a question about disyllabic realization of FA/RA. The statistical analysis of the L2 speakers’ results shows that L2 speakers regardless their level of language skills don’t make any systematic difference in realization of FA and RA. In particular, in initial and medial position L2 speakers realize a “type of accent” that is similar to Serbian RA.