Intonational Patterns of Topic and Focus Constructions in Yucatec Maya

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sentences were adapted to the Peto dialect of YM and are reproduced
below. Sentence (5) illustrates the focusing on an undergoer, (6) on an
agent, and (7) on a subject (highlighted in bold). Figures (13), (14) and
(15) show the corresponding pitch tracks. We can observe that in the three
sentences the topicalized constituent gets an LH* pitch accent, which is
kept apart as an independent prosodic phrase from the following
phonological material.
(8) Lala domingo-e'
hun-p'el
hit k-in
every sunday-TOP one-CL.IN hit IMPF-A1
hats-'ik.
beat -INC(B.3.SG)
Every Sunday, it is a hit that I get. (lit. beat)
(9) Lala domingo-e'
teen
hats-'ik
every sunday-TOP me
eat-INC(B.3.SG)
hun-p'el
hit.
one-CL.IN hit
Every Sunday, it is me who gets a hit.
(10) Lala domingo-e'
teen
k-in
haats'
ma'alob.
every sunday-TOP me
IMPF-A1
beat
NEG.bad
Every Sunday, it is me who hits well (lit. beat)