Comparison of Pitch Range in Finnish (L1) and Russian (L2)

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the pitch range of a speaker can vary according to the language he speaks. The hypothesis is tested on Finnish university students studying Russian as a foreign language before and after their stay in Russia. First, the global pitch range (max – min) is determined. Second, the pitch range in different types of utterances (declarative, question, exclamation) is examined by superimposing pitch contours. The results indicate that the learners have a narrower pitch range and a less variable pitch than native speakers both in L1 and L2. However, the results also suggest that L2 experience seems to help most students to produce a more native-like pitch range, especially in questions.