↓H* — THE downstepped HIGH Pitch Accent

The Downstepped pitch accent—symbolized as ↓H*—is also also extremely common. Unlike our previous two pitch accents, H* and L*, ↓H* cannot be the sole pitch accent in an intonational phrase. It can only exist in relation to an immediately preceding H*. In the example from two pages ago, there is an initial H* on the first syllable of Mallory’s, followed by ↓H*s on mom and lawyer.

This pattern of one or more downstepped pitch accents is so common that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to assign any specific meaning to it. It is simply the main default pattern for a series of pitch accents in an intonational phrase.

Here are some more examples of ↓H* pitch accents from different speakers on varied utterances. As you listen to them and look at the accompanying pitch tracks, try to repeat them back, matching the movement of pitch as closely as you can. Try also to observe and feel out the similarities between them—the underlying category that is ↓H*.