Development of Studies on German Prosody (1970s–2010s)

Abstract

This study examines the development of research on German prosody, based on a database of 960 sources. First, it highlights the main research focus areas and methodological approaches, including models of prosody, corpora, and annotation schemes. Second, it discusses key research centres and prominent figures across three periods: (a) 1970s–1980s; (b) 1990s; (c) 2000s–2010s. Driven initially by British studies and by collaboration between academia and industry, German prosodic research has consistently been among the most advanced worldwide. Its major qualitative shift occurred in the 1990s, when some early research centres declined but many new ones emerged, leading to a more diverse field. There has been a transition of focus from the phonology to the phonetics of prosody, subsequently to its functions, and later to an intrinsic and variable interaction between functions and forms, along with insights into perception, cognitive processing, and acquisition of prosody.