Lexical Tone and Melody in the Thai Language

A Comparative analysis of Melodic-Tonal Transitions in Y-Series Soundtracks

Abstract

The present article seeks to contribute to the existing discussions about the correlation between tonal and melodic transitions in tone languages and the compositional process in those languages. Considering the importance of Y-economy, were analyzed tonal e melodic transitions of twelve different thai pop songs used as the original soundtrack (OST) of ten Y series (a drama genre based on achillean same-sex relationships). Based on statistical analyzes proposed by Ketkaew and Pittayaporn in 2014, melodic-tonal transitions were categorized as corresponding, opposing or non-opposing. The article demonstrates greater correspondence between tonal and melodic transitions than no correspondence and investigates if lexical tones are a determinant factor for the compositional process. Further studies are necessary to investigate the opposing transitions and the parts of speech where they are found.