One of many.

How do you understand prosody and the role it plays in language use? Provide two examples to support your answer.

    Prosody, in general, is tools used for communication cues and indicators. Since my native language is a spoken one (English), its prosodic markers are most familiar to me. Spoken language prosodic markers include the rhythm, stress, and intonation of words to indicate the intent of the text. We naturally utilize these markers to show emotional states, differentiate between questions and commands, to show sarcasm, to create emphasis, as well as numerous other things. Signed language users rely on prosodic markers for the same reason: to indicate the intent of the text. However, a different approach is used. To identify a few from Nicodemus’ article, prosodic markers used in signed languages include changes in eye aperture, head movements, body leans, cheek puffing, and nose wrinkling.

    A basic example of applying prosodic markers is how we indicate we are asking a question. When asking a question, spoken language users raise the pitch of their voice at the end of the phrase. Some speakers continuously increase pitch throughout the sentence; others raise the pitch of just the last word or few words. Signed language users, when asking questions, raise or lower their eyebrows to indicate they are seeking information. Sometimes more prosodic markers are used, but there is always a raising or lowering of the eyebrows.

    The second example I will use will be to show how we exhibit the emotion state of being in wonder. In spoken and signed languages, the word choice varies drastically depending on the speaker or signer, but for the sake of simplicity we will pretend the speaker/signer has chosen to express “Wow” as their text. Spoken language users in a state of wonderment might lengthen the vowel, lower their tone, and pause to collect their next thought. Signed language users might slow down the pace of their signing, drop their jaw, and possibly lean the body inward.

    Prosodic markers are natural to us. It is the pitch, rhythm, intonation, tempo, etc. naturally used to indicate the intent of our message.