Title: Control of the voicing distinction for intervocalic stops and fricatives: some data and theoretical considerations
Abstract: The present paper represents an attempt to integrate some new data with previously published information on control of the voicing distinction for obstruents. The experiment reported herein deals with the duration of the voiceless interval associated with voiceless stops and fricatives in the intervocalic, prestressed position. The voiceless interval is defined as that time-segment during which the vocal folds are not vibrating. For stops, this interval will generally include the duration of the closure interval plus the voice-onset time (VOT). In the case of fricatives, the voiceless interval includes the duration of both the supraglottal constriction and any aspiration which precedes a following vowel. The results of this experiment demonstrated that the duration of the voiceless interval is independent of obstruent manner- and place-of-articulation. From these findings and consideration of previously reported fiberscopic and electromyographic data, it is concluded that the devoicing gesture is the same for stops and fricatives, and that the timing of this gesture is executed in a preprogrammed, ballistic fashion. Arguments are subsequently developed to the effect that (1) speakers do not, and need not, control VOT in a continuous fashion, and (2) speakers may sometimes structure supraglottal time programs in terms of laryngeal timing demands, as evidenced by control of the voicing distinction for fricatives.
Publication Year: 1980
Publication Date: 1980-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 55
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