Prozodické aspekty reprodukované řeči v konverzačních příbězích

Abstract

This article presents thefindings of a study on the prosodic aspects of reported speech in informal conversations. The majorityof the material was recorded by speakers themselves in the hope that this would eliminate theObserver’s Paradox. First, instances of reported speech were chosen and then prosodic differencesbetween these instances and ambient speech were identified. The voice qualities used by the speakersto index different affective states and personal qualities of others were further examined, and anauditive as well as an instrumental analysis of the speech signal was performed. The findings suggestthat the use of specific prosodic devices is not an individual matter but rather a conventionalizedone. Changes in F0 level and level of intensity are the most frequent prosodic aspects. Strong rhythmicityof reported speech occurrences is also quite frequent. Prosodic features function mainly onthe principle of contrast (i.e. in direct relation to non-reported speech) and are used in a complexmanner. The same bundles of voice qualities are used by different speakers to construct almost stereotypicalimages of concrete personas.