Abstract
Prosodic features and pragmatic functions of the short vocalization at the transitional phase from babbling to meaningful utterrances were investigated. Subjects were five normal infants. Pitch pattern, pitch range, fundamental frequency (F0) and duration were selected as prosodic features. The differentiation from the function which pertains most emotion to responding function which is fairly stable after first word period was observed. The relation between functions and pitch pattern were obtained as follows: (1) ‹refusal› showed a rising pattern, and ‹affirmation› and ‹response to calling› also showed falling and flattening respectively. (2) A complex pattern was seen in ‹request›. (3)In emotional function, a complex pattern was significant. Irrespective of the variation within and individual and among individuals in infant's vocalization, the results suggest that different parameters are used according to the commuicative intentions, and prosodic features corresponding to pragmatic functions. Moreover some of the parameters were used in the same manner as adults.
