Cross-linguistic differences in articulatory timing lag in consonant cluster perception

Abstract

Cross-language research on consonant cluster production has shown that consonant clusters in different languages are produced with different degrees of articulatory timing lags. The present study examines perceptual sensitivity to these cross-linguistic timing differences in consonant clusters. Native German listeners were tested on an AXB similarity judgment test using stimuli including consonant clusters produced by German and Georgian speakers. (German consonant clusters are produced with relatively shorter lag between two consonants than Georgian ones.) Stimuli were /bla, gla, gna/ syllables recorded along with articulatory (EMA) data. Short lag German tokens and long lag Georgian tokens were selected as A and B, with Xs of varying degrees of lag chosen from either Georgian or German recordings. Results showed that German listeners are sensitive to the cross-linguistic differences in articulatory timing lag: when the timing lag of X was closer to A, participants were more likely to choose A. Moreover,...