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Recent Developments in Hispanic Linguistics: Studies in structure, variation, and bilingualism
Edited by Michael Gradoville and Sean McKinnon
[Issues in Hispanic and Lusophone Linguistics 41] 2024
► pp. 69–95

Chapter 3
The intonation of yes-no questions in bilingual Gipuzkoan Spanish and Basque from Irun

| Florida State University
This study examines the intonation of information-seeking yes-no questions in bilingual Spanish and Basque from Irun, Gipuzkoa, and considers the effects of language dominance in describing intonational patterns. Data from 13 bilingual speakers show that falling contours (most commonly (¡)H* L%) predominate in both languages, especially among Basque-dominant bilinguals. Rising contours (namely L* H% and H* LH%) occur more frequently than previously reported for Basque Spanish. We argue that this result stems from the linguistic reality of Irun, where the use of Spanish is more widespread. Overall, most participants produced the same contours in both languages, which suggests that they utilize a common intonation inventory.
Keywords: intonation, yes-no questions, Basque Spanish, Basque, bilingualism
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The structure of yes-no questions
    • 2.1Structure of yes-no questions in Spanish
    • 2.2Structure of yes-no questions in Basque
  • 3.Intonation of yes-no questions
    • 3.1Stress in Spanish and Basque
    • 3.2Intonation in Spanish
      • 3.2.1Castilian Spanish
      • 3.2.2Basque Spanish
    • 3.3Intonation in Basque
  • 4.Effects of language dominance
  • 5.Methodology
    • 5.1Target population
    • 5.2Participants
    • 5.3Data collection
    • 5.4Recording and coding
  • 6.Results
    • 6.1Spanish
      • 6.1.1Results by language dominance group
    • 6.2Basque
      • 6.2.1Results by language dominance group
    • 6.3Bilinguals’ use of intonation across languages
  • 7.Discussion
  • 8.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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