Obstruent devoicing and registrogenesis in Chru

Marc Brunelle, James Kirby, Tạ Tấn Thành , Đinh Lư Giang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We describe the register system of Chru, a Chamic language of Vietnam. In Chru, a historical contrast between prevoiced and voiceless stops is now a system of two registers signalled by differences in f0, voice quality, and F1 in addition to closure voicing. However, closure voicing is in a state of flux: while older men maintain closure voicing in the onsets of low-register items, younger speakers and some older women frequently have no (or only weak) closure voicing in this context. In addition, the distribution of VOT in low register onsets is bimodal, realized either with strong closure voicing or greater VOT than voiceless stops. Interestingly, f0, F1 and voice quality cues are not enhanced after devoiced low-register stops, but instead are more pronounced after stops realized with closure voicing. We argue this indicates that enhancement of cues in phonologization must in some sense be complete before neutralization takes place.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 19th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, Melbourne, Australia 2019
EditorsSasha Calhoun, Paola Escudero, Marija Tabain, Paul Warren
Place of PublicationCanberra, Australia
Pages517-521
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Event19th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences - Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 5 Aug 20199 Aug 2019
https://www.icphs2019.org/

Conference

Conference19th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences
Abbreviated titleICPhS 2019
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityMelbourne
Period5/08/199/08/19
Internet address

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Chru
  • voicing
  • register
  • voice quality
  • phonologization

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