Prosodie et émergence du sens : propositions pour une étude cognitive de l’intonation

Abstract

AbstractThis paper aims at giving English intonation a driving role in the building and the emergence of meaning. It presents four propositions, going from the perception of intonation to its role in the representation of meaning. First, the concept of intonational form, based on the gestalt model of good form, is introduced. Second, the fundamental characteristic of intonational form is its dynamic nature. Third, intonation is positioned in the semantic layer, and is on par with the other linguistic components (syntax, lexicon, grammar). Finally, it is the evolution of the verbal scene that gives intonation its fundamental role.