The Phonetics of Stress Clashes in Greek

Abstract

The present paper examines the phonetic correlates of stress clash resolution in Greek. Two native speakers were recorded producing sentences with and without stress clashes. The data show that stress clashes are more often remedied by lengthening the first vowel in the clash, and less frequently by lengthening the following consonant. Phonological claims that stress clashes can be resolved by pause insertion or by pronouncing the clashing syllables at markedly different pitch levels were not supported by the data. In view of the present results the relation of rhythm and intonation in Greek is briefly examined