Constraints on contrast motivate nasal cluster dissimilation

Phonology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 655-694
Author(s):  
Juliet Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Evidence ◽  
Nasal Consonant

Many languages exhibit nasal cluster dissimilation, in which an illicit sequence of nasal–stop clusters is modified in some way (e.g. NC1VNC2 → N1VNC2). This article discusses generalisations in the typology of nasal cluster dissimilation, and claims that nasal cluster dissimilation is driven by constraints on contrast distinctiveness: it occurs preferentially in those environments where the first NC is most confusable with a plain nasal consonant. I propose an analysis that appeals to auditory factors, and provide acoustic and perceptual evidence that is consistent with it.

scholarly journals The aerodynamic puzzle of nasalized fricatives: Aerodynamic and perceptual evidence from Scottish Gaelic

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Warner ◽  
Daniel Brenner ◽  
Jessamyn Schertz ◽  
Andrew Carnie ◽  
Muriel Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scottish Gaelic ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Instrumental Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Perceptual Evidence ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Do So

AbstractScottish Gaelic is sometimes described as having nasalized fricatives (/ṽ/ distinctively, and [f̃, x̃, h̃], etc. through assimilation). However, there are claims that it is not aerodynamically possible to open the velum for nasalization while maintaining frication noise. We present aerodynamic data from 14 native Scottish Gaelic speakers to determine how the posited nasalized fricatives in this language are realized. Most tokens demonstrate loss of nasalization, but nasalization does occur in some contexts without aerodynamic conflict, e.g., nasalization with the consonant realized as an approximant, nasalization of [h̃], nasalization on the preceding vowel, or sequential frication and nasalization. Furthermore, a very few tokens do contain simultaneous nasalization and frication with a trade-off in airflow. We also present perceptual evidence showing that Gaelic listeners can hear this distinction slightly better than chance. Thus, instrumental data from one of the few languages in the world described as having nasalized fricatives confirms that the claimed sounds are not made by producing strong nasalization concurrently with clear frication noise. Furthermore, although speakers most often neutralize the nasalization, when they maintain it, they do so through a variety of phonetic mechanisms, even within a single language.

Forward Coarticulation of Velar Movement at Marked Junctural Boundaries

1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McClean
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Nasal Consonant

The effects of marked junctural boundaries on the onset of forward velar coarticulation were studied using high-speed cinefluorographic techniques. Three subjects were filmed while producing a constant CVVN sequence with a variety of prosodically marked boundaries falling between the two vowels. Frame-by-frame tracings made of the velum and associated reference structures yielded plots of velar movement over the CVVN sequence. The results showed that the onset of forward coarticulation to the nasal consonant was consistently delayed in those cases where marked junctural boundaries were present. Previous data on velar coarticulation at unmarked boundaries were corroborated, and two patterns of velar movement are described.

Velumtätigkeit bei der Erzeugung stimmhafter und stimmloser Nasalkonsonanten im Isländischen

1981 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnús Pétursson
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Patterns ◽  
Stop Consonants ◽  
The South ◽  
Research Instrument ◽  
North West ◽  
South West ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Nasal Consonant

In modern Icelandic, spoken in the South, West, and North-West of Iceland, there is a phonemic opposition between voiced and voiceless nasals before stop consonants. For the present investigation the research instrument was the velograph. The purpose of the research was to investigate patterns of velar movement associated with each type of nasal consonants. The results show different types of velar movement organized according to two separate temporal patterns. For the voiceless nasals the movement of the velum is more rapid and begins earlier than for the voiced nasals. There are also significant differences in the nasalization of the preceding vowel according to whether the following nasal consonant is voiced or voiceless.

scholarly journals Structure-from-motion: Perceptual evidence for surface interpolation

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Treue ◽  
Richard A. Andersen ◽  
Hiroshi Ando ◽  
Ellen C. Hildreth
Keyword(s):  
Structure From Motion ◽  
Surface Interpolation ◽  
Perceptual Evidence

The Palatal Closure Efficiency Index: A New Speaker-Centered Aerodynamic Metric for the Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Function During Speech

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-374
Author(s):  
David J. Zajac ◽  
Juliana Powell ◽  
Laura Perotta
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Gap Size ◽  
Pressure Flow ◽  
Meaningful Information ◽  
Nasal Consonant ◽  
Velopharyngeal Function

Purpose Pressure-flow testing provides clinicians with estimates of velopharyngeal (VP) gap size during speech production. Traditionally, adequacy of VP function has been based on absolute area criteria. This clinical focus article provides a brief overview of pressure-flow testing and introduces the palatal closure efficiency index, a speaker-centered metric to interpret findings. Conclusions The palatal closure efficiency index provides information on a speaker's ability to achieve VP closure during oral plosives relative to his/her own VP opening during a nasal consonant. This approach provides both clinicians and patients with more meaningful information to interpret pressure-flow findings for both diagnostic and treatment outcome purposes.

scholarly journals Perceptual evidence for saccadic updating of color stimuli

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (14) ◽  
pp. 9-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Wittenberg ◽  
F. Bremmer ◽  
T. Wachtler
Keyword(s):  
Perceptual Evidence
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