falling minor thirds

["R. Parncutt" <psa03@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am forwarding the following request on behalf of Jay Rahn
<RELATION@VM1.YorkU.CA>:

>Are there studies providing Hz or cents quantifications of "intervals" in
>speech intonation (incl., possibly, tone languages)? and specifically, have
>any of these revealed a propensity for descents of ca. 300 cents within or
>between individual syllables?

This issue is related to all that sports chanting business that was bouncing
around a while back. But it has broader musical implications -- for example,
children's songs from around the world seem to include lots of falling minor
thirds.

Richard Parncutt

Dept of Psychology, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK
E-mail: r.parncutt@keele.ac.uk
Tel: 01782 583392; Tel/fax: + 44 1782 583387