Home On the Back of the Tongue: Dorsal Sounds in Australian Languages
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

On the Back of the Tongue: Dorsal Sounds in Australian Languages

  • Andrew Butcher , Andrew Butcher , Marija Tabain and Marija Tabain
Published/Copyright: July 16, 2004

Abstract

In this paper we provide an overview of dorsovelar articulations and acoustics in several Australian Aboriginal languages, and we compare these results with data from English. We examine languages that have a single dorsal, as well as languages that have two dorsal places of articulation. Using direct palatography and F<sub>2</sub> transition measures, we show that Australian languages appear to have a distinct velar target for each of the three major vowel contexts, with a high degree of coarticulation between each velar allophone and its following vowel target, whilst English has only two velar targets – back and non-back, with a lower degree of coarticulation between velar allophones and their corresponding vowel targets. Thus, whilst the range of allophonic variation for velars extends further back in the Australian Aboriginal languages than in English, there appears to be no difference in the articulation of velars in the front vowel context. Drawing on results from the biomechanics, language acquisition, speech perception and acoustics literatures, we suggest that this result may be due to conflict between systemic constraints imposed by the place-rich consonant systems of Aboriginal languages and universal acoustic constraints on the identity of front-velar sounds, which may contribute to the instability of such articulations and the relative infrequency of velar + high vowel combinations in the world’s languages.


verified


References

1 Anderson, V.B.: Giving weight to phonetic principles: the case of place of articulation in Western Arrernte; PhD thesis University of California, Los Angeles (2000).Search in Google Scholar

2 Baayen, R.; Piepenbrock, R.; van Rijn, H.: The CELEX lexical database; CD-ROM (University of Pennsylvania, Linguistic Data Consortium, Philadelphia 1993).Search in Google Scholar

3 Barkat-Defradas, M.; Al-Tamimi, J.-E.; Benkirane, T.: Phonetic variation in production and perception of speech: a comparative study of two Arabic dialects; in Sol&eacute;, Recasens, Romero, Proc. 15th Int. Congr. Phonet. Sci., Barcelona 2003, pp. 857&ndash;860 (CD-ROM. 2003).Search in Google Scholar

4 Blake, B.J.: The Kalkatungu Language: a brief description. Aust. Aboriginal Stud., vol. 20, Ling. Ser. 8. (AIAS, Canberra 1969).Search in Google Scholar

5 Bradley, D.: Acoustic correlates of seven consonant positions in Yanyuwa. Univ. Melbourne Working Papers Ling. 6: 21&ndash;48 (1980).Search in Google Scholar

6 Breen, G.: Wanyi and Garrwa comparative data; in Evans, The Non-Pama-Nyungan languages of northern Australia: comparative studies of the continent&rsquo;s most linguistically complex region, pp. 425&ndash;462 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra, in press).Search in Google Scholar

7 Butcher, A.R.: Measuring coarticulation and variability in tongue contact patterns. Clin. Ling. Phonet 3: 39&ndash;47 (1989).10.3109/02699208908985269Search in Google Scholar

8 Butcher, A.R.: &lsquo;Place of articulation&rsquo; in Australian languages; in Seidl, Proc. 3rd Aust. Int. Conf. on Speech Sci. Technol., pp. 420&ndash;425 (Australian Speech Science and Technology Association, Canberra 1990).Search in Google Scholar

9 Butcher, A.R.: The phonetics of neutralization: the case of Australian coronals; in Windsor Lewis, Studies in general and English phonetics: essays in honour of Professor J.D. O&rsquo;Connor, pp. 10&ndash;38 (Routledge, London 1995).Search in Google Scholar

10 Butcher, A.R.: Some connected speech phenomena in Australian languages: universals and idiosyncrasies. Arbeitsber. Inst. Phonetik Univ. Kiel (AIPUK) 31 (1996).Search in Google Scholar

11 Butcher, A.R.; Weiher, E.: An electropalatographic investigation of coarticulation in VCV sequences. J. Phonet. 4: 59&ndash;74 (1976).10.1016/S0095-4470(19)31222-7Search in Google Scholar

12 Cassidy, S.; Harrington, J.: Multi-level annotation in the EMU speech database management system. Speech Commun. 33: 61&ndash;77 (2001).10.1016/S0167-6393(00)00069-8Search in Google Scholar

13 Catford, J.C.: Fundamental problems in phonetics (Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh 1977).Search in Google Scholar

14 Chadwick, N.: Narndji wordlist and phonological key. Papers on the Languages of Australian Aboriginals, pp. 34&ndash;35 (AIAS, Canberra 1971).Search in Google Scholar

15 Chadwick, N.: A Descriptive study of the Djingili Language. Austr. Aboriginal Stud., Regional and Res. Stud. 2 (AIAS, Canberra 1975).Search in Google Scholar

16 Chadwick, N.: The West Barkly Languages: complex morphology; PhD diss Monash University, Melbourne (1978).Search in Google Scholar

17 Chadwick, N.: The West Barkly languages: an outline sketch; in Wurm, Australian linguistic studies, C-54, pp. 653&ndash;711 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1979).Search in Google Scholar

18 Cho, T.: Intra-dialectal variation in Korean consonant cluster simplification: a stochastic approach. Chicago Ling. Soc. 35 (2000).Search in Google Scholar

19 Coleman, C.: A grammar of Gunbarlang, with special reference to grammatical relations; BA Hons sub-thesis Australian National University, Canberra (1982).Search in Google Scholar

20 Dench, A.: Panyjima; in Dixon, Blake, Handbook of Australian languages, vol. 4, pp. 124&ndash;243 (Oxford University Press, Oxford 1991).Search in Google Scholar

21 Dixon, R.M.W.: Wargamay; in Dixon, Blake, Handbook of Australian languages, vol. 2, pp. 1&ndash;144 (The Australian National University Press, Canberra 1981).10.1075/z.hal2Search in Google Scholar

22 Dixon, R.M.W.: Australian languages: their nature and development (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2002).10.1017/CBO9780511486869Search in Google Scholar

23 Engstrand, O.; Krull, D.; Lindblom, B.: Sorting stops by place in acoustic space. Proc. 13th Swed. Phonet. Conf. (FONETIK 2000), Sk&ouml;vde 2000, pp. 53&ndash;56 (2000).Search in Google Scholar

24 Firth, J.R.: Word palatograms and articulation; in Papers in linguistics 1934&ndash;1951, pp. 148&ndash;155 (Oxford University Press, Oxford 1957).Search in Google Scholar

25 Furby, C.E.: Garawa phonology. Papers Austr. Ling. 7, A-37, pp. 1&ndash;11 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1974).Search in Google Scholar

26 Goddard, C.: Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara to English dictionary; 2nd ed. (IAD Press, Alice Springs 1996).Search in Google Scholar

27 Hale, K.: Tjingilu field notes and recordings. AIATSIS ms 869, tape A4530a (1960).Search in Google Scholar

28 Hamilton, P.J.: Phonetic constraints and markedness in the phonotactics of Australian Aboriginal languages; PhD diss University of Toronto (1996).Search in Google Scholar

29 Hardcastle, W.J.; Gibbon, F.; Nicolaidis, K.: EPG study of lingual coarticulation in four European languages. ACCOR Periodic Prog. Rep. 2, Action 3279, ESPRIT II/BRA (1991).Search in Google Scholar

30 Heath, J.: Nunggubuyu dictionary (Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra 1981).Search in Google Scholar

31 Hoole, P.; Munhall, K.; Mooshammer, C.: Do airstream mechanisms influence tongue movement paths? Phonetica 55: 131&ndash;146 (1998).10.1159/000028428Search in Google Scholar PubMed

32 Hume, E.; Johnson, K.; Seo, M.; Tserdanelis, G.: A cross-linguistic study of stop place perception; in Ohala, Hasegawa, Ohala, Granville, Bailey, Proc. 14th Int. Congr. Phonet. Sci., ICPhS, Berkeley 1999, pp. 2069&ndash;2072.Search in Google Scholar

33 Janson, T.: Cross-linguistic trends in CV sequences. Phonol. Yb. 3: 179&ndash;196 (1986).10.1017/S0952675700000634Search in Google Scholar

34 Jernudd, B.: Articulating Gunwinjgu laminals; in Blake, Papers in Australian Aboriginal languages. Ling. Commun. 14, pp. 83&ndash;109 (Monash University, Melbourne 1974).Search in Google Scholar

35 Keating, P.A.: Palatals as complex segments: X-ray evidence. UCLA Working Papers Phonet. 69: 77&ndash;91 (1988).Search in Google Scholar

36 Kelly, J.: Consonant-associated resonances in three varieties of English; in Windsor Lewis, Studies in general and English phonetics: essays in honour of Professor J.D. O&rsquo;Connor, pp. 335&ndash;349 (Routledge, London 1995).Search in Google Scholar

37 Kirton, J.; Charlie, B.: Seven articulatory positions in Yanyuwa consonants. Papers Aust. Ling. 11, A-51, pp. 179&ndash;199 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1979).Search in Google Scholar

38 Krull, D.: Second formant locus patterns as a measure of consonant-vowel coarticulation. Phonet. Exp. Res. Inst. Ling., Univ. Stockh. (PERILUS) 5: 43&ndash;61 (1987).Search in Google Scholar

39 Search in Google Scholar

40 Ladefoged, P.; Maddieson, I.: The sounds of the world&rsquo;s languages (Blackwell, Oxford 1996).Ladefoged, P.; Traill, A.: Instrumental phonetic fieldwork. UCLA Working Papers Phonet. 49: 28&ndash;42 (1980).Search in Google Scholar

41 Laughren, M.; Hoogenraad, R.: Draft of Warlpiri dictionary. Central Australian Dictionaries Program (Institute for Aboriginal Development, Alice Springs 1996).Search in Google Scholar

42 Laver, J.D.M.H.: Principles of phonetics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1994).10.1017/CBO9781139166621Search in Google Scholar

43 Livijn, P.: Acoustic distribution of vowels in differently sized inventories &ndash; hot spots or adaptive dispersion? Proc. 13th Swed. Phonet. Conf. (FONETIK 2000), Sk&ouml;vde 2000, pp. 93&ndash;96 (2000).Search in Google Scholar

44 Livijn, P.: Distribution of dental and retroflex l-sounds across some Swedish dialects. Proc. 15th Swed. Phonet. Conf. (FONETIK 2002), Stockholm 2002. Q. Prog. Status Rep. (Dep. Speech, Music and Hearing and Centre for Speech Technol., KTH, Stockholm) 44: 25&ndash;28 (2002).Search in Google Scholar

45 Livijn, P.; Engstrand, O.: Place of articulation for coronals in some Swedish dialects. Proc. 14th Swed. Phonet. Conf. (FONETIK 2001), &Ouml;ren&auml;s 2001. Working Papers, Dep. Ling., Lund Univ. 49: 112&ndash;115 (2001).Search in Google Scholar

46 McDonald, M.; Wurm, S.A.: Basic materials in Wangkumara (Galali): grammar, sentences and vocabulary. B-65 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1979).Search in Google Scholar

47 McGregor, W.B.: A functional grammar of Gooniyandi (Benjamins, Amsterdam/Philadelphia 1990).10.1075/slcs.22Search in Google Scholar

48 MacNeilage, P.F.; Davis, B.L.; Kinney, A.; Matyear, C.L.: The motor core of speech &ndash; a comparison of serial organization patterns in infants and languages. Child Dev. 71: 153&ndash;163 (2000).10.3171/2008.9.JNS08191Search in Google Scholar

49 Maddieson, I.: Patterns of sounds (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1984).10.1017/CBO9780511753459Search in Google Scholar

50 Maddieson, I.; Precoda, K.: Syllable structure and phonetic models. Phonology 9: 45&ndash;60 (1992).10.1017/S0952675700001494Search in Google Scholar

51 Manuel, S.Y.: The role of contrast in limiting vowel-to-vowel coarticulation in different languages. J. acoust. Soc. Am. 88: 1286&ndash;1298 (1990).10.1121/1.399705Search in Google Scholar

52 Manuel, S.Y.: Cross-language studies: relating language-particular coarticulation patterns to other language-particular facts; in: Hardcastle, Hewlett, Coarticulation: theory, data and techniques, pp. 179&ndash;198 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1999).10.1017/CBO9780511486395.009Search in Google Scholar

53 Moore B.C.J.; Glasberg, B.R.: A revision of Zwicker&rsquo;s loudness model. Acustica 82: 335&ndash;345 (1996).Search in Google Scholar

54 Mooshammer, C.; Hoole, P.; K&uuml;hnert, B.: On loops. J. Phonet. 23: 3&ndash;21 (1995).10.1016/S1695-4033(07)70611-2Search in Google Scholar

55 Nordlinger, R.: A grammar of Wambaya, Northern Territory (Australia) (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1998).Search in Google Scholar

56 Ohala, J.J.: The origin of sound patterns in vocal tract constraints; in MacNeilage, The production of speech, pp. 189&ndash;216 (Springer, New York 1983).10.1007/978-1-4613-8202-7_9Search in Google Scholar

57 Patz, E.: A grammar of the Kuku-Yalanji language of north Queensland (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 2002).Search in Google Scholar

58 Pensalfini, R.: A grammar of Jingulu, an Aboriginal language of the Northern Territory (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 2003).Search in Google Scholar

59 Perrier, P.; Payan, Y.; Zandipour, M.; Perkell, J.: Influences of tongue biomechanics on speech movements during the production of velar stop consonants: a modelling study. J. acoust. Soc. Am. 114: 1582&ndash;1599 (2003).10.1121/1.1587737Search in Google Scholar

60 Przezdziecki, M.: Vowel harmony and vowel-to-vowel coarticulation in three dialects of Yoruba. Working Papers Cornell Phonet. Lab. 13 (2000).Search in Google Scholar

61 Rumsey, A.: An intra-sentence grammar of Ungarinjin, North-Western Australia. B-86 (Pacific Linguistics, Canberra 1982).Search in Google Scholar

62 Sharp, J.: Draft Nyangumarta dictionary; ms. RCLT, Latrobe University, Vict. (2003).Search in Google Scholar

63 Stevens, K.N.: Acoustic phonetics (MIT Press, Cambridge 1998).Search in Google Scholar

64 Sussman, H.; McCaffrey, H.; Matthews, S.: An investigation of locus equations as a source of relational invariance for stop place categorization. J. acoust. Soc. Am. 90: 1309&ndash;1325 (1991).10.1121/1.401923Search in Google Scholar

65 Tabain, M.: A spectrographic study of nasal consonants in Yanyuwa and Yindjibarndi; Honours thesis University of Melbourne (1994).Search in Google Scholar

66 Tabain, M.; Breen, G.; Butcher, A.R.: VC vs. CV syllables: a comparison of Aboriginal languages with English. J. Int. Phonet. Assoc. (in press).Search in Google Scholar

67 Tabain, M.; Butcher, A.R.: Stop consonants in Yanyuwa and Yindjibarndi: a locus equation perspective. J. Phonet. 27: 333&ndash;357 (1999).10.1590/S0004-282X2007000500003Search in Google Scholar

68 Tatham, M.A.A.: Towards a cognitive phonetics. J. Phonet. 12: 37&ndash;47 (1984).10.1016/S0095-4470(19)30849-6Search in Google Scholar

69 Zorc, R.D.: Yol&karsi038;u-Matha dictionary (School of Australian Linguistics, Darwin Institute of Technology, Darwin 1986).Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2003-10-18
Accepted: 2004-04-16
Published Online: 2004-07-16
Published in Print: 2004-03-01

© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

Downloaded on 23.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1159/000078661/html
Scroll to top button