Research on the Temporal Effect of Focus on Trisyllabic Sequences in Leizhou Min

In this study, the temporal effect of focus on the trisyllabic sequences in Leizhou Min is investigated. There are two kinds of tones, long (L) and short (S) tones, in this dialect, and the temporal pattern of trisyllabic sequences with various tonal combinations, as well as the effect of focus on it, are examined. It is found that the basic temporal patterns of trisyllabic sequences in Leizhou Min are ‘medium-short-long’ and’ short-short-long’, with the final syllable generally being the longest one. The durations of the syllables will increase under the effect of focus, while the temporal pattern of the sequence usually keep unchanged. The long tone, the first and the final syllables of the sequence tend to lengthen more than the short tone and the other syllables of the sequence when it is on focus.