Session Acoustics IV:Acoustics IV: Oral and Nasal Stops
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| Acoustics IV-1 |
Post-nasal devoicing in Tswana
Andries W. Coetzee, University of Michigan Susan Lin, University of Michigan Rigardt Pretorius, Nort-West University Paper File Additional Files |
| Tswana is traditionally described as having a process of post-nasal devoicing (/mba/ > [mpa]). If this is accurate, then Tswana poses a challenge to views that neutralization processes should be articulatorily grounded. Airflow leakage through the nasal cavity should promote, not inhibit, voicing post-nasally. Zsiga et al. performed acoustic analysis of the speech of 6 Tswana speakers, and found no evidence of post-nasal devoicing. They conclude that, counter to traditional descriptions, Tswana does not have post-nasal devoicing. In an independent study, we collected speech from 12 Tswana speakers. Four of our speakers showed clear and consistent post-nasal devoicing. In this paper, we present the data for these 4 speakers to show that at least some speakers of Tswana do have an active process of post-nasal devoicing. We also consider possible explanations for this process, arguing that it is motivated by perceptual rather than articulatory considerations. | |
| Acoustics IV-2 |
Fine-grained Phonetics and Acquisition of Greek Voiced Stops
Eunjong Kong, Ohio State University, Department of Linguistics Mary Beckman, Ohio State University, Department of Linguistics Jan Edwards, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Department of Communicative Disorders Paper File |
| We explore the acoustics of Greek voiced stops produced by 2~3 year-old Greek-acquiring children and compare them with adult patterns, in order to understand developmental universals in the mastery of phonation-type contrast. A truly voiced stop (with negative VOT) is a difficult sound due to aerodynamic requirements of glottal gesture. Prior studies show that French or Thai-acquiring children are hindered by this fact, not mastering them until age 5. To assess the effects of such physical constraints on acquisition, we examine the acoustics of Greek voiced stops and investigate how Greek learners deal with articulatory difficulties of producing them. Greek data were recorded in two experiments and were analyzed in terms of amplitude change during the closure and around the burst. Results suggest the very detailed phonetic descriptions of phonetic categories must be taken into account to provide properly nuanced prediction about developmental universals. | |
| Acoustics IV-3 |
An acoustic and articulatory study of Bininj Gun Wok stop consonants
Hywel Stoakes, The University of Melbourne Janet Fletcher, The University of Melbourne Andrew Butcher, Flinders University Paper File |
| It has previously shown that there is a clear duration difference between the long and short stop series in Bininj Gun Wok, a language spoken in Northern Australia. The stops are phonologically categorized as fortis and lenis. This investigation looks at some non-durational phonetic correlates of the contrast between lenis and fortis consonants. H1-H2, H1-A2 and H1-A3 measurements were made using acoustic recordings and the closed quotient CQ was measured using an electroglottograph. Although there were differences in H1-H2, voice quality was not found to be a consistent cue to a contrast across all measures. | |