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Acoustic covariants of length contrast in Japanese stops

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2008

Kaori Idemaru  and
Susan G. Guion
Kaori Idemaru
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, University of [email protected]
Susan G. Guion
Affiliation:
Department of Linguistics, University of Oregon, [email protected]
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Abstract

This study explores acoustic correlates to the singleton vs. geminate stop length contrast in Japanese. The proposal examined is that multiple acoustic features covary with the stop length distinction and that these features are available in the signal as potential secondary cues. The results support the proposal, revealing the presence of several acoustic features covarying with the singleton vs. geminate contrast in both durational and non-durational domains. Specifically, the preceding vowel is longer, the following vowel is shorter, there are greater fundamental frequency and intensity changes from the preceding to the following vowel, and there is evidence of more creakiness in voice quality for geminate than singleton consonants. It is also demonstrated that the vowel durations, as well as fundamental frequency and intensity changes have fairly strong categorization power.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Phonetic Association , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , August 2008 , pp. 167 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © Journal of the International Phonetic Association 2008

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