Break Index

There are four break indices, 0, 1, 2, and 3. Break indices mark cohesion (or the lack thereof) between constituents in an utterance.

• ​BI 0 is used to mark total cohesion between orthographic words (e.g., clitics and their hosts). Orthographic words separated by BI 0 constitute a PrWord that may bear only one pitch accent (with the noted exception of hosts and clitics with two accents). Several types of sandhi may occur across a BI 0 boundary, however, sandhi is not necessary for a BI 0 to be used. For example, a proclitic particle like /na/ and the following verb are perceived as one PrWord by native speakers, but no sandhi can occur between /na/ and a consonant-initial verb.

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• BI 1 marks boundaries between PrWords. Items separated by BI 1 should carry at most one pitch accent each, although a PrWord need not be accented (e.g., all PrWords following an early focus are de-accented ; Baltazani & Jun, 1999; Botinis, 1998). In general, if an item is accented, then it should be considered a separate PrWord. On the other hand, the absence of accent, as mentioned, does not constitute evidence that an item is not an independent PrWord in Greek.

• BI 2 marks the boundaries of ips (intermediate phrases).

• BI 3 marks the boundaries of IPs (Intonational Phrases).

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