Pitch at the crossroads: Experimental approaches to the language–music connection

DESCRIPTION:

Pitch is central to both language and music, yet the relationship between linguistic and musical pitch remains under-theorized within laboratory phonology. While LabPhon has long advanced the experimental study of tone and intonation, explicit cross-domain research on the language–music interface remains comparatively limited.

This satellite workshop brings together phonetic, phonological, and music-cognitive perspectives on pitch, with the goal of developing a unified experimental framework spanning speech, chant, and song. Under LabPhon 20’s theme Looking Back and Looking Forward, the workshop reflects on foundational research in tone and intonation while charting new directions for cross-domain modeling of pitch.

We invite abstracts on experimental, theoretical, and methodological approaches to pitch in language and music, situating language–music research squarely within the empirical and conceptual concerns of laboratory phonology.

Topics of Interest:

We welcome abstracts addressing, but not limited to:

  • Pitch scaling, normalization, and perception across speech and song
  • Tone–melody mapping and adaptation
  • Timing and rhythm in linguistic versus musical performance
  • Experimental, articulatory, and neurocognitive evidence for shared pitch mechanisms
  • Corpus-based and fieldwork approaches to sung or chanted speech
  • Cross-linguistic and cross-cultural perspectives, particularly from under-documented tonal systems

Preference will be given to work that integrates linguistic and musical perspectives and/or employs laboratory methods in tonal languages.

Format:
Talks: 15 minutes presentation + 5 minutes discussion
Poster: 40 minutes for the whole session

Date and Time:
Thursday, June 25, 2026
1:00–4:30 pm

Authors should indicate in their submission email whether they prefer a talk or a poster presentation. Please note that, due to scheduling constraints, preferences may not be accommodated.

Abstract Submission Guidelines:

  • Abstracts must be submitted in English and in PDF format.
  • The main text of the abstract must not exceed one page, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins.
  • A second page may be used for data, figures, tables, and references.
  • Non-English language data must include interlinear glosses following the Leipzig Glossing Rules.
  • Abstracts should be sent to vnwosu@ucalgary.ca (cc: dflynn@ucalgary.ca)
  • Deadline: March 15, 2026, midnight anywhere on earth.

Organisers:
Vincent Nwosu
University of Calgary
vincent.nwosu@ucalgary.ca

Kathryn Franich
Harvard University
kfranich@fas.harvard.edu

Darin Flynn
University of Calgary
Email: dflynn@ucalgary.ca