Intonational features for identifying regional accents of Italian

Aim of this paper is providing a preliminary account of some intonational features useful for identifying a large number of Italian accents, estimated as representative of Italian regional variation, by analysing a corpus of comparable speech materials consisting of Map Task dialogues. Analysis concentrates on the intonational characteristics of yes-no questions, which can be realised very differently across varieties, whereas statements are generally characterised by a (low) falling final movement. Results of this preliminary investigation indicate that intonational features useful for identifying Italian regional accents are the tune type (risingfalling vs falling-rising vs rising), and the nuclear peak alignment in rising-falling contours (mid vs late).