Fricative‐vowel coarticulatory effects in Arabic

Abstract

Using LPC analysis, an investigation of anticipatory vowel coarticulation was made of 100‐ms segments of Arabic voiceless fricatives (/h, x, ∫, and s/) spoken in isolation and in three prevocalic contexts (/ɑ, i, and u/) by three native speakers. The degree of coarticulation for each prevocalic fricative segment was determined by assessing both the amount of spectral change from the isolated production, and the relationship of prevocalic fricative peaks to vowel formats. Strong coarticulation was observed for all speakers in all three vowel contexts for the pharyngeal fricative /h/, while minimal coarticulatory effects were present for the dental fricative /s/. Vowel specific trends were evident for the palatal /∫/ and velar /x/ fricatives: strong coarticulation was seen for /xi/, /xu/, /∫i/ and/ ∫ɑ/ and not the remaining utterances. Individual differences were evident with respect to degree of coarticulation. The three speakers behaved similarly for only three of the 12 fricative‐vowel utterances. Results are discussed in terms of the articulatory compatibility principle. Present address: Biosciences Lab., 3M Center, St. Paul, MN.