Patterns of (De)glottalization in Nivacle

Nivacle is the only Mataguayan language where glottalization in vowels has been reported as a contrastive feature. Specifically, Stell (1989:97) postulates a phonemic distinction between plain vowels and glottalized vowels. As well, she treats the glottal stop as an independent consonantal phoneme in the language. Contra Stell (1989), it is proposed that there is no phonological opposition between modal vowels vs glottalized vowels; Nivacle glottalized vowels are sequences of a vowel plus a moraic glottal stop with different prosodic parsings. The glottal stop and its associated mora can either attach to the Nucleus of the syllable or to the syllable, in coda position. As a result, two different surface realizations result (i) rearticulated/creaky vowels,and (ii) vowel-glottal coda. Unifying these several properties, it is claimed that Nivacle glottalized vowels are underlyingly bimoraic and are licensed by the head of an iambic foot; the Nivacle language has a quantity-sensitive stress system. The proposed analysis offers a principled explanation of two prosodic properties related to the distribution and characteristics of Nivacle glottalized vowels. First, duration is a statistically significant acoustic property that differentiates modal from creaky/rearticulated vowels in Nivacle; the non-modal vowels are (almost) twice as long as their modal counterparts. Second, glottalized vowels consistently deglottalize, that is, they lose their [c.g.] feature (and thus shorten) in unstressed/non-head position.Fil: Gutiérrez, Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Centro Argentino de Información Científica y Tecnológica; Argentin

The variable prosodic parsings of Nivaĉle glottal stop

This paper establishes the featural and prosodic representations of the Nivaĉle (Mataguayan) glottal stop. On the one hand, it is proposed that the Nivaĉle glottal stop is unspecified for place features, but specified for constricted glottis ([c.g]). On the other hand, it is advanced that /ʔ/ is an independent consonantal phoneme in the language that has multiple prosodic parsings. First, a glottal stop can occur (contrastively) in syllable onset position. Second, a postvocalic glottal stop can be variably parsed to the vocalic Nucleus of the syllable and hence form part of a Complex Nucleus or to the coda position. As a result, two different manifestations of phonetic glottalized vowels are realized: creaky/rearticulated and vowelglottal coda, respectively. It is argued that these diverse glottal realizations are rooted in a set of prosodic constraints

Międzynarodowy alfabet fonetyczny w slawistyce

The monograph is an extensive guide to international transcription. All currently used symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet are incorporated along with the explanation of their meaning and uses. Among many examples of transcription derived from phonetic publications, original transcriptions of more difficult articulations are also included in the book. It may be noted, therefore, that the book bridges the gap in Polish linguistic literature where–for many years–a full description of present standard of international transcription has been missing. The examples of transcriptions and sets of symbols are gathered to meet the needs of Slavonic researchers. The present monograph may be, therefore, recognized as intended for scientific rather than general reader. It may prove useful to specialists in different linguistic fields as well as in speech therapy. The book might be used by students of various philological subjects provided that they have acquired the essentials of articulatory phonetics. The monograph comprises ten chapters along with the unpaginated preface and a list of phonetic symbols at the end. General assumptions of the study are introduced in the preface as well as possible uses of international transcription and reasons behind preferring this system of transcription to traditional Slavonic alphabet. The first chapter outlines the history of the International Phonetic Association and its alphabet since its beginnings in late 19th century until the latest changes in the 21st century. All currently used sets of international phonetic symbols with essential explanations are introduced in the second chapter. Understanding of the use of the symbols is facilitated by means of original typology of the symbols contained in this chapter. The third chapter depicts the so-called Principles of the International Phonetic Association defining the application of the alphabet, the evolution of its symbols, as well as basic rules of international transcription. The Principles are discussed according to the official handbook of the International Phonetic Association. In the following chapter, symbols of both Slavonic and International Phonetic Alphabets are compared, each group of equivalents being accompanied by essential explanatory notes. The list of symbols introduced in chapter four enables the reader to compare both alphabets and become familiarized with the major differences between them. Ways of transcribing different actions of the larynx (i.e. phonation) are presented in the fifth chapter, whose latter section consists of symbols which may be used to transcribe prosodic features of speech including tone, word stress, length, boundaries of prosodic units, intonation contours and many others. The most important consonant symbols arranged according to the place of articulation are discussed in the subsequent chapter, which begins with the description of the model of vocal organs with its divisions. More unusual articulations are introduced in the footnotes, since they may occur in Slavonic languages only as incorrect realizations of sounds. The main text, however, is centered around articulations that are most common in the above-mentioned languages. In the seventh chapter, vowel symbols are elaborated with reference to the vowel quadrilateral model which provides the basis of the international system of vowel transcription. This section contains the symbols of the most important central approximants as well as symbols of particular Slavonic vowels. Chapter eight includes review of symbols for essential complex articulations, such as palatalization, labialization, affricates, nasalization and diphthongs. In a separate section, transcription of different types of release–also called ‘plosion’ in some works–is presented along with types of consonant gemination. In the subsequent (ninth) chapter much space has been given to particular issues concerning phonetics of Slavonic languages. Transcription of coronal, palatal and palatalized consonants is discussed in great detail, the discussion being an attempt at organizing different transcriptions found in literature. The last chapter consists of additional examples of transcriptions of words and sentences in Czech, Polish, Russian and Slovenian languages. Due to sporadic application of the International Phonetic Alphabet to Slavonic languages, providing examples from other languages was not possible. Nevertheless, the transcriptions gathered allow to observe wide range of possibilities of the International Phonetic Alphabet which serves as a device for marking minute articulatory features. The list of references provides all publications used in the monograph as well as offers additional information on the International Phonetic Alphabet. All phonetic symbols and all complex symbols available in computer fonts are listed at the end of the book. Value description as well as Unicode number are provided for each symbol. Additional explanatory notes on structure and common erroneous substitutions of similar letters are given to most complex symbols. Many of the international symbols have their equivalents in simplified phonetic scripts which are also added to the closing list of symbols

Exploring the prosodic and syntactic aspects of Mandarin-English Code switching

L’alternance codique (Code-switching, CS) est l’un des comportements naturels les plus courants chez les bilingues. Les linguistes ont exploré les contraintes derrière l’alternance codique (CS) pour expliquer ce comportement. Au cours des dernières décennies, la recherche a plutôt été axée sur les contraintes syntaxiques et ce n’est que récemment que les contraintes prosodiques ont commencé à attirer l’attention des linguistes. Puisque la paire de langues choisie est moins étudiée dans le domaine de recherche sur la CS, les études sur la CS mandarin-anglais sont limitées en ce qui concerne les deux contraintes. Ainsi, cette étude explore à la fois les contraintes prosodiques et les schémas syntaxiques de cette paire de langues grâce à une base de données naturelle sur l’alternance codique. Prosodiquement, l’étude applique une approche fondée sur l’information (information-based approach) et utilise une unité fondamentale, l’unité d’intonation (Intonation Unit, IU), pour mener l’analyse. Le résultat de 10,6 % d’IU bilingue (BIU) se révèle fiable et offre des preuves solides que l’alternance codique a tendance à avoir lieu aux frontières de l’IU chez les bilingues. Les résultats soutiennent le travail précurseur de Shenk (2006) à partir d’une paire de langues inexplorée (mandarin-anglais). De plus, cette étude développe des solutions au problème de subjectivité et au problème d’adéquation de la base de données afin de renforcer la fiabilité des résultats. D’un point de vue syntaxique, l’étude examine les schémas syntaxiques aux points de CS de la paire de langues mandarin-anglais en utilisant des données recueillies auprès d’une communauté bilingue rarement étudiée. Un schéma syntaxique spécifique à cette paire de langues a été observé en fonction des résultats, mais l’étude suggère que ce schéma ait perturbé les résultats finaux. L’étude comporte une analyse avec les résultats de l’aspect prosodique et de l’aspect syntaxique. Lorsque les résultats divergents sont éliminés, on peut observer un résultat plus solide qui soutient davantage l’argument de la contrainte prosodique.Code-switching (CS) is one of the most common natural behaviors among bilinguals. Linguists have been exploring the constraints behind CS to explain this behaviour, and while syntactic constraints have been the focus for decades, prosodic constraints were only studied more in depth recently. As a less common language pair in CS research, studies on Mandarin-English CS are limited for both constraints. Thus, this study explores the prosodic constraints and syntactic patterns of this language pair with a natural CS database. Prosodically, this study applies the information-based approach and its fundamental unit, Intonation Unit (IU), to conduct the analysis. The result of 10.6% bilingual IU (BIU) proves to be reliable and offers solid evidence that bilinguals tend to code-switch at IU boundaries. This supports the pioneer work of Shenk (2006) from the unexplored Mandarin-English language pair. In addition to this, the study develops solutions to deal with the subjectivity problem and the database appropriateness problem in this approach to strengthen the validity of the results. Syntactically, this study investigates the syntactic patterns at switching points on the Mandarin-English language pair using data collected from a rarely investigated bilingual community. Based on the results, a syntactic pattern specific to this language pair was observed and this study suggests it disrupted the final results. This study conducts an analysis with the results of both the prosodic aspect and the syntactic aspect. When the interfering results are eliminated, a more solid outcome can be observed which provides greater support to the prosodic constraint argument

Lautvariation und Lautwandel im andalusischen Spanisch

This thesis is concerned with the mechanisms by which pre-aspiration changes into post-aspiration in Andalusian Spanish. In this variety pre-aspiration is the result of the weakening of syllable final /s/ before a voiceless stop (e.g. [ˈpasta] -> [ˈpahta]). An apparent-time study was carried out to investigate whether there is a sound change in progress from pre- to post-aspiration ([ˈpahta] -> [ˈpatha]) in Andalusian Spanish. An acoustic analysis of isolated words (e.g. espanto, estado, escapa) produced by younger and older Eastern and Western Andalusian speakers was carried out. The results provided evidence for a sound change in progress by which pre-aspiration is gradually giving way to post-aspiration. Further durational analyses suggest that the sound change is more advanced in Western than in Eastern Andalusian Spanish, and that post-aspiration lengthening and pre-aspiration shortening are not directly linked. A perception experiment was carried out to test whether listeners of Andalusian Spanish use post-aspiration to distinguish /t/ and /st/ in the minimal pair /pata/-/pasta/. Younger listeners and Western Andalusians, who produced a longer post-aspiration, were also more sensitive to post-aspiration as a cue to /st/ than Eastern Andalusians and older listeners. The aim of a second perception experiment was to test how listeners of Argentinian Spanish, a non-post-aspirating variety, perceive pre- and post-aspirated stops. The results suggest that in a stimulus [ˈpahtha] with pre- and post-aspiration, post-aspiration is perceptually more prominent. These findings support a model of the Andalusian sound change in which not only articulatory but also perceptual factors are involved.Gegenstand dieser Dissertation sind die sogenannte Präaspiration und die Mechanismen, die einem diachronen Wandel von Prä- zu Postaspiration im andalusischen Spanisch zu Grunde liegen. Präaspiration ist im andalusischen Spanisch als Folge der Schwächung von silbenfinalem /s/ vor stimmlosen Plosiven entstanden (z.B. [ˈpasta] -> [ˈpahta]). In einer apparent-time Studie wurde untersucht, ob im andalusischen Spanisch für /sp, st, sk/ gegenwärtig ein Lautwandel von Prä- zu Postaspiration ([ˈpahta] -> [ˈpatha]) stattfindet. Wörter mit medialem /sp, st, sk/ (z.B. espanto, estado, escapa), gesprochen von jüngeren und älteren West- und Ostandalusiern, wurden phonetisch-akustisch analysiert. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass im andalusischen Spanisch ein gradueller Lautwandel stattfindet, durch den Postaspiration entsteht und Präaspiration zunehmend schwindet. Weitere Daueranalysen zeigten auf, dass der Lautwandel im Westandalusischen weiter fortgeschritten ist als im Ostandalusischen, und dass die Entstehung der Postaspiration nicht unmittelbar mit dem Verschwinden der Präaspiration einhergeht. In einem Perzeptionsexperiment wurde untersucht, ob andalusische Hörer die Postaspiration nutzen, um /t/ und /st/ im Minimalpaar/pata/-/pasta/ zu unterscheiden. Jüngere Hörer und Westandalusier, die selber eine lange Postaspiration produzierten, waren sensibler für die Postaspiration als Cue von /st/ als Ostandalusier und ältere Hörer. In einem zweiten Perzeptionsexperiment mit Argentiniern wurde getestet, wie Prä- und Postaspiration in einer Varietät des Spanischen wahrgenommen wird, die keine Postaspiration kennt. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass in einem Stimulus [ˈpahtha] mit Prä- und Postaspiration die Postaspiration perzeptiv dominanter ist und unterstützen damit ein Modell für den andalusischen Lautwandel, das auch perzeptive Faktoren berücksichtigt

Lautvariation und Lautwandel im andalusischen Spanisch

This thesis is concerned with the mechanisms by which pre-aspiration changes into post-aspiration in Andalusian Spanish. In this variety pre-aspiration is the result of the weakening of syllable final /s/ before a voiceless stop (e.g. [ˈpasta] -> [ˈpahta]). An apparent-time study was carried out to investigate whether there is a sound change in progress from pre- to post-aspiration ([ˈpahta] -> [ˈpatha]) in Andalusian Spanish. An acoustic analysis of isolated words (e.g. espanto, estado, escapa) produced by younger and older Eastern and Western Andalusian speakers was carried out. The results provided evidence for a sound change in progress by which pre-aspiration is gradually giving way to post-aspiration. Further durational analyses suggest that the sound change is more advanced in Western than in Eastern Andalusian Spanish, and that post-aspiration lengthening and pre-aspiration shortening are not directly linked. A perception experiment was carried out to test whether listeners of Andalusian Spanish use post-aspiration to distinguish /t/ and /st/ in the minimal pair /pata/-/pasta/. Younger listeners and Western Andalusians, who produced a longer post-aspiration, were also more sensitive to post-aspiration as a cue to /st/ than Eastern Andalusians and older listeners. The aim of a second perception experiment was to test how listeners of Argentinian Spanish, a non-post-aspirating variety, perceive pre- and post-aspirated stops. The results suggest that in a stimulus [ˈpahtha] with pre- and post-aspiration, post-aspiration is perceptually more prominent. These findings support a model of the Andalusian sound change in which not only articulatory but also perceptual factors are involved.Gegenstand dieser Dissertation sind die sogenannte Präaspiration und die Mechanismen, die einem diachronen Wandel von Prä- zu Postaspiration im andalusischen Spanisch zu Grunde liegen. Präaspiration ist im andalusischen Spanisch als Folge der Schwächung von silbenfinalem /s/ vor stimmlosen Plosiven entstanden (z.B. [ˈpasta] -> [ˈpahta]). In einer apparent-time Studie wurde untersucht, ob im andalusischen Spanisch für /sp, st, sk/ gegenwärtig ein Lautwandel von Prä- zu Postaspiration ([ˈpahta] -> [ˈpatha]) stattfindet. Wörter mit medialem /sp, st, sk/ (z.B. espanto, estado, escapa), gesprochen von jüngeren und älteren West- und Ostandalusiern, wurden phonetisch-akustisch analysiert. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass im andalusischen Spanisch ein gradueller Lautwandel stattfindet, durch den Postaspiration entsteht und Präaspiration zunehmend schwindet. Weitere Daueranalysen zeigten auf, dass der Lautwandel im Westandalusischen weiter fortgeschritten ist als im Ostandalusischen, und dass die Entstehung der Postaspiration nicht unmittelbar mit dem Verschwinden der Präaspiration einhergeht. In einem Perzeptionsexperiment wurde untersucht, ob andalusische Hörer die Postaspiration nutzen, um /t/ und /st/ im Minimalpaar/pata/-/pasta/ zu unterscheiden. Jüngere Hörer und Westandalusier, die selber eine lange Postaspiration produzierten, waren sensibler für die Postaspiration als Cue von /st/ als Ostandalusier und ältere Hörer. In einem zweiten Perzeptionsexperiment mit Argentiniern wurde getestet, wie Prä- und Postaspiration in einer Varietät des Spanischen wahrgenommen wird, die keine Postaspiration kennt. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass in einem Stimulus [ˈpahtha] mit Prä- und Postaspiration die Postaspiration perzeptiv dominanter ist und unterstützen damit ein Modell für den andalusischen Lautwandel, das auch perzeptive Faktoren berücksichtigt