Acoustic features of palatalized consonants in Nasa Yuwe

Abstract

Nasa Yuwe a Colombian language spoken in the Cauca presents complex features of palatalization [1,2]. Stops and affricates can be palatalized, aspirated and palatalized-aspirated at all places of articulation while prenasalized consonants and fricatives can only be palatalized. Data for this study were recorded from an acoustic recording session and by combining, in a second phase, synchronized acoustic, EGG and oral airflow recordings from 6 speakers (3 female and 3 male). Results show that all palatalized stops are characterized by a short frication noise at the end and a F3/F4 pole at the start of the following vowel. Aspirated stops have a greater frication noise duration and an open glottis. Palatalized-aspirated stops and affricates are produced with frication noise, a F3/F4 pole at the start of the following vowel and an open glottis. Palatalized-aspirated consonants have two phases: a short and intense frication noise accounting for the palatalization, followed by a lower intensity aspiration noise. Both phases can be distinguished by their FFT spectra and oral airflow volume velocity. Prenasalized consonants behave as palatalized stops but without the aspiration feature. Palatalized fricatives have a resonance during the frication, reflecting a tongue movement towards the palatal place. [1] E. Dias, El Habla Nasa (paez) de Munchique: Nuevos Acercamientos a Su Sociolingüistica, Fonologia y Morfosintaxis (Université Lumière Lyon 2, 2019). [2] T. Rojas, La Lengua Paez (Ministerio de Cultura, Bogota, 1998).