# Intonation

- [Clauses](#clauses)
- [Tune Definitions](#tune-definitions)
  - [tune](#tune)
  - [endtune](#endtune)
  - [prehead](#prehead)
  - [headenv](#headenv)
  - [head](#head)
  - [headextend](#headextend)
  - [nucleus](#nucleus)
  - [onset](#onset)
  - [headlast](#headlast)

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In eSpeak NG's standard intonation model, a "tune" is applied to each
clause depending on its punctuation. Other intonation models may be used
for some languages, such as tone languages.

Named tunes are defined in the text file `phsource/intonation`. This file
must be compiled for use by eSpeak NG by using:

	espeak-ng --compile-intonations

## Clauses

The tunes which are used for a language can be specified by using a
`tunes` statement in a voice file in `espeak-data/voices`. e.g.:

	tunes   s1  c1  q1  e1

It's parameters are four tune names which are used for clauses which end
in:

1. Full-stop.
2. Comma.
3. Question mark.
4. Exclamation mark.


A clause consists of the following parts:

	Pre-head

These are any unstressed syllables before the first stressed syllable.

	Head

This is the part from the first stressed syllable up to the last syllable
before the nucleus.

	Nucleus

This is stressed syllable which is the focus of the clause. eSpeak chooses
the last stressed syllable of the clause.

	Tail

These are the syllables after the nucleus.

## Tune Definitions

Here is an example tune definition from the file `phsource/intonation`:

	tune s1
	prehead   46 57
	headenv   fall 16
	head       4 80 55 -8 -5
	headextend 0 63 38 13 0
	nucleus  fall 70 18 24 12
	nucleus0 fall 64 8
	endtune

### tune

	tune <tune name>

Starts the definition of a tune. The `tune name` can be used in a `tunes`
statements in voice files.

### endtune

	endtune <tune name>

Ends the definition of a tune.

### prehead

	prehead <start pitch> <end pitch>

Gives the pitch path for any series of unstressed syllables before the first
stressed syllable.

### headenv

	headenv <envelope> <height>

Gives the pitch envelope which is used for stressed syllables in the head
(before the nucleus), including `onset` and `headlast` syllables if these
are specified.

`height` gives a pitch range for the envelope.

### head

	head <steps> <start pitch> <end pitch> <unstressed start> <unstressed end>

`start pitch` give a pitch path for the stressed syllables of the head.

`steps` is the maximum number of stressed syllables for which this applies. If
there are additional stressed syllables, then the `headextend` statement is used
for them.

`unstressed start` give a pitch path for unstressed syllables between two stressed
syllables. Their values are relative to the pitch of the previous stressed syllable.
Values are usually negative, meaning that the  unstressed syllables have lower pitch
than the previous stressed syllable.

### headextend

	headextend <percentage list>

If the head contains more stressed syllables than is specified by `steps` is used.
It contains up to 8 numbers which are used repeatedly for the additional stressed
syllables. A value of 0 corresponds to the lower the `start pitch` values of the
`head` statement. 100 corresponds to the higher value.

Negative values and values greater than 100 are allowed.

### nucleus

	nucleus <envelope> <top pitch> <bottom pitch> <tail start> <tail end>

This gives the pitch envelope and pitch range of the last stressed syllable of
the clause. `tail start` and `tail end` give a pitch path for the unstressed
syllables which are after the last stressed syllable.

### nucleus0

	nucleus0 <envelope> <top pitch> <bottom pitch>

This is used instead of `nucleus` if there are no unstressed syllables after
the last stressed syllable. In this case, the pitch changes of the nucleus and
the tail and both included in the nucleus.

### onset

	onset <pitch> <unstressed start> <unstressed end>

This specifies the pitch for the first stressed syllable of the head. If the
`onset` statement is present, then the `head` statement used for the stressed
syllables after the first.

### headlast

	headlast <pitch> <unstressed start> <unstressed end>

This specifies the pitch for the last stressed syllable of the head (i.e. the
stressed syllable before the nucleus).