Falling curves (Fallbogen) in the vernacular of Dresden (Intonation contours in German)
- This article describes a salient intonation contour of the Dresden urban vernacular which Gericke (1963) called 'Fallbogen' (falling curve). The contour is described both structurally and functionally. The structural analysis describes the phonetic trajectory of the contour and the phonological structure and alignment of the contour with the syllables of the utterance. In the functional analysis, the use of the contour is investigated in its conversational context. The 'Fallbogen' is reconstructed as a contour which is deployed in order to signal and constitute emphasis and heightened emotive involvement in talk-in-interaction; this analysis is validated with recourse to recipients' responses in the utterances following the use of the 'Fallbogen' contour
