Functional explanation of differences in voice onset time and oral air pressure rise time for stops articulated at different distances from the vocal cords

Abstract

It has been known since 1970 (Joseph Greenberg, Int. J. Am. Ling. 36, 123–145) that a positive correlation exists between voice onset time and distance of stop articulation from the vocal cords. Oral air pressure data tentatively support Greenberg's (1970) conjecture that the larger air cavity between the vocal cords and the point of closure in more anterior stops requires a longer time to build elevated air pressures than the cavity associated with more posterior stops: Prevoiced stops are released at comparable air pressure levels, while the number of glottal pulses occurring, and the time elapsing, as the pressure builds vary directly with the distance of the place of closure from the vocal cords. Air pressure rise times in voiceless stops, and in non‐prevoiced /b‐d‐g/, show a pattern of air pressure rise times comparable to that encountered in the prevoiced stops, suggesting that voiced stops and their prevoiced counterparts may be articulated according to the same internal schedule, or that VOT differences functionally induced in pre‐voiced stops may invade the internal organization of the speech production system.