Stylistic functions of intonation include the “stylistic function to excite the audience” by a performer in a live concert. Unlike regular conversation, a performer talks while observing the response of the multitudes in the scene to excite the audience. This is called “intonation to bring excitement” from the viewpoint of phonetic stylistics in this study, to analyze a performer who excites the audience. Prominence including intonation as a characteristic to excite the audience as well as correlation with the rate of speech, etc. was verified to attempt to interpret phonetic functions of intonation by a performer.
Three conclusions were obtained in this study as follows: Rising intonation is often used; however it is only one factor to excite the audience and falling intonation is also possible depending on speech. Not only prominence, “fresh voice” that does not pass through a microphone may also be emphasized. Excitement is also observed when each characteristic appears alternatively.
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