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Vowel Devoicing in Khalkha Mongolian: Effects of Vowel Type and Phonological Environment

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:https://doi.org/10.14943/110528

Title: Vowel Devoicing in Khalkha Mongolian: Effects of Vowel Type and Phonological Environment
Authors: UETA, Naoki1 Browse this author →KAKEN DB
Authors(alt): 植田, 尚樹1
Keywords: vowel devoicing
Khalkha Mongolian
aspiration
vowel height
phonological condition
Issue Date: 20-Mar-2024
Publisher: 日本北方言語学会
Journal Title: 北方言語研究
Journal Title(alt): Northern Language Studies
Volume: 14
Start Page: 51
End Page: 63
CiNii Research CRID: 1050018583932794112
Abstract: Vowel devoicing is a common phenomenon across languages. Vowels can be devoiced in Khalkha Mongolian by the following aspirated consonant; aspiration is realized as preaspiration, rendering the preceding vowel breathy or devoiced. However, it is unknown under what conditions and how frequently vowel devoicing occurs in Mongolian. This study examined the relationship between vowel devoicing frequency and phonological conditions and analyzed how vowel devoicing can be interpreted in Mongolian. The production experiment and acoustic analysis revealed the following facts. Firstly, vowel devoicing in Mongolian does not occur consistently even when conditions are fulfilled, meaning that it is a redundant phenomenon motivated phonetically. Secondly, the consonant preceding a vowel affects vowel devoicing; vowels are even more frequently devoiced between two aspirated consonants compared to when the preceding consonant is unaspirated. Thirdly, fricatives also cause vowel devoicing in Mongolian, indicating that they can be regarded as aspirated, although the vowel devoicing rate is lower when the following consonant is a fricative than when it is an aspirated stop or affricate. Lastly, the frequency of devoicing varies depending on the vowel type; i is the most frequently devoiced and ɵ is the least frequently devoiced, probably because i is a high and unmarked vowel, while ɵ is a marked vowel in Mongolian. In addition, the low vowel a is also frequently devoiced, suggesting that high and low vowels can be devoiced based on different mechanisms.
Type: bulletin (article)
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/92092
Appears in Collections:北方言語研究 = Northern Language Studies > 第14号

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