# Paradigmatic and syntagmatic effects of information status on prosodic prominence – evidence from an interactive web-based production experiment in German

## TL;DR

This study explores how information status affects speech patterns in German, revealing how speakers use pitch and other acoustic features to highlight important information.

## Contribution

The paper introduces an interactive web-based experiment to study prosodic prominence, revealing new insights into its redundant and relational nature.

## Key findings

- Information status is encoded paradigmatically via F0 contour in German speech.
- Syntagmatic effects depend on the acoustic parameter used and show subtle variations.
- Individual speakers differ in how strongly and which parameters they use to encode prominence.

## Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how information status is encoded paradigmatically and syntagmatically via prosodic prominence in German. In addition, we consider individual variability in the production of prominence. To answer our research questions, we collected controlled yet ecologically valid speech by applying an innovative recording paradigm. Participants were asked to perform an interactive reading task in collaboration with an interlocutor remotely via video calls. Results indicate that information status is encoded paradigmatically via the F0 contour, while syntagmatic effects are subtle and depend on the acoustic parameter used. Individual speakers differ primarily in their strength of encoding and secondarily in the type of parameters employed. While the paradigmatic effects we observe are in line with previous findings, our syntagmatic findings support two contradictory ideas, a balancing effect and a radiating effect. Along with the findings at the individual level, this study thus allows for new insights regarding the redundant and relational nature of prosodic prominence.