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NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 lists 3月 as さんがつ{HLLL}, but it doesn't sound like a downstep
on the first mora, but a bit like さんがつ{HHLL} to me. Are they both viable?

Is the 平板型 version also possible? Are these examples of さんがつ{LHHH} or am I
mishearing it? [1](https://youtu.be/s1VcJLdrygw?t=797),
[2](https://youtu.be/0pDkIMyRLrQ?t=183),
[3](https://youtu.be/VhFMEJhnTNk?t=882)

I don't know what [4](https://youtu.be/6YF2L6PbuN8?t=90),
[5](https://youtu.be/X5wi2_bKD2E?t=361),
[6](https://youtu.be/0Di7braNxD4?t=87), [7](https://youtu.be/w-Dk147jJ_M) are.
I feel uncertain about putting them in either camp.

And the date that follows doesn't change the pitch pattern, does it? What
about 3月号? さんがつごう{LHHHHH}?
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question
pitch-accent
3月 pitch accent
At least phonologically, all your samples except #1 and #4 sound さんがつ{HLLL}
according to my ear. However, a phenomenon called 遅下がり "delayed drop" is
recognized in the Standard Japanese phonetics, that in some situations, the
pitch drop point or the pitch peak falls on the next mora where the accent
kernel is supposed to exist. Unfortunately, this is a relatively new topic
that has not much research covered yet. Neither is known whether it signals an
ongoing shift on the accent model of Japanese or not.

Recent papers:

  * [東京方言話者の単語音声におけるおそ下がりの生起条件の調査](https://doi.org/10.24467/onseikenkyu.23.0_165)
  * [自発発話音声から見た日本語音調の動態](http://repository.tufs.ac.jp/handle/10108/100154)

Either way, it is known that 頭高型 words, like this case, are more likely to
exhibit 遅下がり, probably because the Standard Japanese does not have a
さんがつ{HHLL} type word to distinguish. If you put accent on the second mora, it
only becomes さんがつ{LHLL} (while I don't think we have a word where ん carries
accent).

By the way, #1 sounds as if the accent is neutralized on this word for some
reason (trying to handle intonation?). #4 I certainly hear さんがつに{LHHHL} which
is nonstandard in Tokyo accent, or perhaps affected by the speaker's dialect.

**PS** I forgot to mention that 三月号 becomes さんがつごう{LHHHLL} and the pattern
applies to every 〜月号.
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answer