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Relationship between Semivowels and Vowels: Cross-Linguistic Investigations of Acoustic Difference and Coarticulation

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Published/Copyright: November 19, 2009
Phonetica
From the journal Phonetica Volume 42 Issue 4

Abstract

Formant frequencies of the semivowels /j/ and /w/ in Amharic, Yoruba and Zuni were measured in three vowel environments. Cross-language differences were found between what are described as the same semivowels, i. e. different languages have different acoustic targets for /j/ and /w/. These cross-language differences in semivowels correlate with cross-language differences in the respective cognate vowels /i/ and /u/. Nonetheless, the semivowels differ in systematic ways from the vowels in directions that make them more ‘consonantal’. These languages also differ in their patterns of coarticulation between semivowels and adjacent vowels. This shows, inter alia, that palatal segments differ from language to language in their degree of resistance to coarticulation. Because of these language-specific coarticulatory patterns, cross-language differences in acoustic targets can only be established after careful consideration of the effect of context.

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Received: 1985-07-24
Accepted: 1986-02-05
Published Online: 2009-11-19
Published in Print: 1985-07-01

© 1985 S. Karger AG, Basel

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Further Section
  2. Contents, Vol. 42, 1985
  3. Paper
  4. Relationship between Semivowels and Vowels: Cross-Linguistic Investigations of Acoustic Difference and Coarticulation
  5. On Aspiration in Swahili: Hypotheses, Field Observations, and an Instrumental Analysis
  6. A Perceptual Study of the Influence of Pitch on the Intelligibility of Sung Vowels
  7. Review Article
  8. Grundlagen der phonometrischen Linguistik
  9. Further Section
  10. Necrologium
  11. Libri
  12. Publications Received for Review
  13. Index autorum
https://doi.org/10.1159/000261748

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Further Section
  2. Contents, Vol. 42, 1985
  3. Paper
  4. Relationship between Semivowels and Vowels: Cross-Linguistic Investigations of Acoustic Difference and Coarticulation
  5. On Aspiration in Swahili: Hypotheses, Field Observations, and an Instrumental Analysis
  6. A Perceptual Study of the Influence of Pitch on the Intelligibility of Sung Vowels
  7. Review Article
  8. Grundlagen der phonometrischen Linguistik
  9. Further Section
  10. Necrologium
  11. Libri
  12. Publications Received for Review
  13. Index autorum
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