Abstract
The contrast between fortis and lenis consonants in Tyap and Jju of Nigeria must be explained otherwise than as a voicing distinction. The acoustical correlates of this phonological contrast between prevocalic consonants include temporal differences, reported earlier [N. P. McKinney, J. Phon. 18, 255–266 (1990)] and expanded upon in this study, and spectral differences, which are also examined here. Pairs of words differing only in whether the initial consonant was fortis or lenis were produced by two speakers of each of the two languages and were analyzed spectrographically. Transitions to vowels from fortis palatalized consonants were found to start with a higher F2 than those from corresponding lenis consonants. Similarly, transitions from fortis labialized consonants were found to start with a lower F1 and F2 than those from lenis ones. Interdependence of these temporal and spectral characteristics will be discussed.
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