The Implicit and Explicit Prosody of the Focus Operator yinwei (Because) in Chinese Complex Sentences

TL;DR

This study explores how the Chinese conjunction yinwei (because) affects prosody in complex sentences.

Contribution

The study reveals that yinwei consistently induces a focus effect marked by primary stress on the cause clause.

Findings

Yinwei induces a robust focus effect marked by primary stress on the succeeding cause clause.

The focus effect is observed in both implicit and explicit prosody across different conditions.

Findings highlight the interplay between syntax and prosody in Chinese causal sentences.

Abstract

This study investigated the prosodic realization of the focus effect induced by the conjunction yinwei (because) in Chinese causal complex sentences. Although previous research has demonstrated the focal effect of yinwei, its prosodic manifestations remain unclear. Guided by the Implicit Prosody Hypothesis, in this study, we explored both implicit and explicit prosodic patterns across different conjunctions and linear-order conditions. Thirty Mandarin Chinese speakers (mean age = 20.2, gender-balanced) participated in silent and spoken reading tasks. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and Linear Mixed-Effects Models, were employed to assess the focus assignment and prosodic realization. The results indicate a consistent and robust focus effect of yinwei, marked by the primary stress on the succeeding cause clause in both implicit and explicit prosody. These findings enhance our understanding of the interplay between syntax and prosody in Chinese causal complex sentences.

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