Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: This study focusses on possible sex-related differences in pitch range in Dutch questions.In the literature, it has been claimed that female intonation patterns are more varied and more expressive than those of men.This suggests that female pitch ranges are wider than male, but studies on pitch range do not consistently corroborate that.However, these studies concentrate on declarative speech, as well as on global pitch range.We hypothesised that, in questions, female ranges are wider as women have been reported to be more directed towards establishing interaction.For this, asking questions is an important tool and it is likely that women mark their questions by at least locally widening their pitch range, i.e. in accents and final rises.Examination of read and spontaneous questions showed that, on the whole, female ranges were wider than those of men, not only locally but also globally.
Authors: Johanna de Haan, Vincent J. van Heuven
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1027288097