本論文採用腦事件相關電位（Event-Related Potentials，簡稱ERPs）實驗，研究台灣閩南語使用者，如何在變動的調域中處理聲調的感知。整合回顧的文獻，本研究提出台灣閩南語聲調和語調的疊加模型，認為在句子的層次當中，語調單元（intonation unit）可變動調域，而不造成聲調辨義的困難。本論文進行兩個實驗，進一步探討語調單元的結構：（1）實驗一探討語調單元中，足以區辨三個平調的最小調域；（2）實驗二探討語調單元是什麼樣的單位。

實驗一的受試者為11人，語料是臨時組合的姓名雙音節詞，音高單位為音樂上的半音音程。結果發現，台灣閩南語語調單元的最小調域，至少要差距4個半音音程，中平調往上1個半音音程，就進入高平調的範疇，中平調往下2個半音音程，就離開中平調的範疇，然而低平調實際的降調調型，仍為感知區辨的重要線索，涵蓋中平調往下的3個半音音程之間，造成低平音高空間，成為中平調與低平調的模糊重疊空間。電生理資料呈現感知歷程的漸進差異，包含：（1）預期決定要處理的範圍；（2）語義整合的困難度。當音高落在要處理的範圍之外，與預期差距愈大N400愈小，語義整合的困難度愈小，當音高落在要處理的範圍之內，與預期差距愈大N400愈大，語義整合的困難度愈大。引發波幅差異較大的區域，在大腦中央frontal-parietal。行為資料呈現範疇性的結果，是聲調歸類的最後結果，低平音高必須強迫歸類為中平調或低平調。

實驗二的受試者為10人，語料是句子，分別在音節、韻律詞、小韻律詞組、大韻律詞組等四種單位變動調域，觀察變動調域分界，是否造成語義整合的困難。結果發現，代表台灣閩南語連調組的小韻律詞組，變動調域並未造成語義整合的困難，而其他單位拆散連調組變動調域，均造成語義整合的困難。電生理資料呈現變動調域當下的感知處理歷程，連調組變動調域，較正常調域引發正向的波幅，未引發N400反應，而拆散連調組的單位，均引發N400趨勢的波幅，引發波幅差異較大的區域，均在大腦中央frontal-parietal。代表台灣閩南語使用者在感知句子層次的聲調時，在連調組分界，並未預期聲調的音高相對性，在連調組之內則預期聲調的音高相對性。行為資料呈現感知處理後的結果，包含聲調音高相對性與語法線索的彌補作用，變動調域的單位愈大，彌補作用的效果愈明顯。

關鍵詞：聲調、調域、腦事件相關電位、ERP、N400

The present study is aimed at investigating how the subjects process changed tonal range in Taiwanese. Two event-related potential（ERP）experiments are designed to delineate the unit in which the tonal range could be changed.
In experiment 1, we investigated the minimal range within which the subjects can discriminate among the three level tones. The results show that the minimal tonal range in Taiwanese is at least four semitones. The boundary between the mid tone and the high tone is located at one semitone over the mid tone. The lower boundary of the mid tone is located at two semitones below the mid tone. However, in the range of low level pitch, the mid tone and low tone become indistinct. Nonetheless, the falling pattern is an important feature of the low tone in Taiwanese, so that the low level tone used in our experiment is not distinguishable from the mid tone in the range beyond the lower boundary of the mid tone. Gradual differences in perception are shown in the ERP data. When the pitch played to the subjects is beyond the upper and lower boundary of the tone in question, the more deviant the easier in processing, inducing smaller N400; when the pitch played to the subjects is within the upper and lower boundaries of the tone in question, the more deviant the more difficult in processing, inducing larger N400. The largest N400 amplitude is induced in the frontal-parietal area.
In experiment 2, we tried to find out what kind of unit, with changed tonal range, is acceptable to the subjects. Four types are manipulated. Each type contains two conditions: sentences with and without changed tonal range. ERP data were recorded from the starting point of changed tonal range. Compared to the sentences without changed tonal range, the ones with changed tonal range in type 1, 2, and 4 induce N400. It seems to suggest that the 3 type, i.e. the changing of the tonal range in the whole tone sandhi group induces less difficulties in processing. The largest N400 amplitude is induced in the frontal-parietal area.

Key Words: tone, tonal range, ERP, N400

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