Towards Lithuanian intonation annotation

ENThis study aims to introduce the first steps in creating the methodology of intonation labelling for standard Lithuanian, similar to the ToBI system. The analysis consists of three parts: 1) preparatory work and the development of guidelines for annotating tones; 2) testing of the created guidelines using separate sentences and coherent speech; and 3) determining and marking syllable prominence. The study is based on the combination of methods suggested by Lithuanian phonologists, autosegmental-metrical phonology researchers, and the DIMA system categories of prominence. The analysis shows that in standard Lithuanian, intonational phrases tend to start with %L and end with L%. -H and H- tones are more frequently found in intermediate phrases. The most characteristic for Lithuanian are the flat pitch accents L*, H* and the rising accents LH*, L*H, L^H*, and H^H*. The first level of prominence is characterised by the low tone L*. The most typical pitch accents for the second level are L*, LH*, and H*, and for the third level, the characteristic accents are all the rising (LH*, L^H*, L^H*, H^H*) as well as the high tone H*. Key words: standard Lithuanian, intonation, annotation, prominence.