The Sliding Head. The Scandent Head.

The Sliding Head is formed by a sequence of slides, i.e. downward pitch movements, associated with each fully stressed syllable of the head. To symbolize the Sliding Head the mark ^N is placed above each stressed syllable.

The stressed syllables in the Sliding Head may start on the same pitch or form a gradual ascent or descent. The last type seems to be the most frequent.

In the Descending Sliding Head each preceding stressed syllable starts on a higher pitch than the following one, the first full stress beginning on the highest pitch. However, the descent in pitch is not step-like as in the Stepping Head; it has a jumpy, or wave-like, character. Such an effect is due to the pitch contrast between the end of the preceding stress-group and the beginning of the following: the latter is higher in pitch as a result of a downward pitch movement inside the preceding stress-group, realized either as a glide on the stressed syllable (when there aren't any unstressed syllables following) or as a jump in pitch between the stressed syllable and the following unstressed ones.

Partially stressed syllables in the given type of head behave in the same way as the unstressed ones: they gradually carry the pitch down, so that when a full stress is given only to the first notional word and the other prenuclear notional words are given partial stresses {one-peak head), the pitch pattern of the head is falling rather than sliding.

The degree of prominence achieved is at the same time greater in the Sliding and Falling Heads as compare with the Stepping and the High Heads, respectively. This accounts for their wide us in lively, expressive conversation and in reading emotionally colored texts.

The Sliding Head and its variant, the Falling Head, are most frequently combine with the Falling-Rising Tone, although they may occur with any of the other nuclei tones as well.

The Scandent Head

The head of an utterance is sometimes formed by a sequence of 'climbs', i.e. upward pitch-changes associated with each of the stressed syllables which are indicated with an upward arrow (^/m). These upward pitch movements are realized either inside the stressed syllable (when no unstressed syllables follow) or on the unistressed syllable which are then pronounced on a higher pitch than the preceding stressed syllable. Partial stresses in the given type of head behave in the same way as the unstresse syllables: they continue the rise of the voice initiated on the preceding stressed syllable.

Utterances pronounced with the Scandent Head sound lively and expressive. The exact modal connotation depends on the nuclear tone and the communicative type of an utterance. Combined with the High Rise in general questions the Scandent Head often expresses surprise and incredulity.

Combined with the Low Rise in imperative utterances this head has a reassuring, encouraging meaning and is often used in speaking to children y.

The Scandent Head before a falling nuclear tone may express the speaker's irritation or, vice versa, cheerfulness and interest (the exact meaning is always clear from the context).

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