UC Davis

This study investigates the role of prosody in narration as a function of Labovian narrative structure and stancetaking in identity performance. This study is both (1) an extension and enhancement of preliminary work that looked at a handful of prosodic features in Mexican Spanish narratives, and (2) a novel investigation into discursive acts expressed through narrative prosody. Previous work has established that speakers use prosody in socially meaningful ways in discourse (House, 2006). At the same time, research in narrative inquiry has provided unique insight about the ways in which speakers systematically construct oral narratives (Labov, 1997, 2013; Labov & Waltetzky). Still, many questions remain open regarding the interface of these realms and the function that prosody plays in narrative construction, especially in language contact settings where bilingualism is the norm for speakers. In addition, while many scholars have touched upon identity as a fluid sociological entity, there is yet to be any insight as to how prosody can reveal the underpinnings of dynamic identity performance in narration. Drawing on and expanding preliminary work, I examine Mexican American bilingual narratives as a means to observe patterns of prosodic content and function to provide answers for both of these theoretical questions. Narratives are analyzed through (1) discourse analysis informed by a Labovian structural framework, and (2) Spanish ToBI analyses to measure pitch accent realization and intonation patterns. Both of these facets are conducted with the goal of outlining the relationship between prosody and (1) narrative structure as well as (2) performativity of Mexican/Hispanic/Latinx identities via style shifting and stance. This study can offer insight in how prosody can be comprehensively incorporated with Labov’s framework of narrative analysis, as well as how speakers in language contact utilize prosody to varying degrees depending on discourse content and positionality. Additionally, this study provides insight into how prosody may vary in its usage in language contact situations. Findings from both studies demonstrate rich use of prosody in a variety of narrative contexts, related to personal experiences, family stories, and identity navigation. Notably, speakers use intonation contours to index narrative structure and different epistemic stances in identity, with observations being noted in the difference between falling and non-falling (e.g., uptalk) contours. Pauses and syllable lengthening also have narrative and discourse-specific purposes, including the enhancement of intonation contours, signaling stances of certainty and uncertainty, and modulating the interaction to index open vs closed dialogic continuation in identity work. The purposes that these prosodic features carry may often overlap or be difficult to interpret based on the context. Nonetheless, the results of this dissertation reveal the importance of prosody in both narrative discourse generally and specifically within bilingual contexts common to the Mexican American community.