Is [ɤ] in Mandarin a Transitional Vowel? —evidence from Tongue Movement By Ultrasound Imaging

Abstract

This study investigates tongue configuration and its changes during the production of [ɤ] using ultrasound imaging. By collecting data from four native Mandarin speakers, this paper compares the tongue movement of [ɤ], [i] and [a] in Mandarin Chinese, and finds that [ɤ] has clearly higher variations than the other two monophthongs in tongue intrinsic length, tongue intrinsic height and accelerations in both horizontal and vertical directions. By analyzing the tongue shape of [ɤ] between the 30% and 80% time points of articulation, this research found that the tongue underwent the following movements in the process of producing [ɤ]: the tongue first humped at the front of the dorsum. It then pivoted around the uvular region in small, continuous steps, namely, the tongue front lowered while tongue back rose. Simultaneously, the whole tongue underwent a de-arching movement, during which tongue dorsum lowered and the tongue stretched in the front-back direction. Under the mutual influence of the two movements, the whole tongue moved slightly backwards and declined in height. Finally, the tongue back and the rear of the tongue dorsum moved closer to the pharynx and uvula, while the tongue front lowered. Thus, the present paper partially validates Shi’s (2002b) viewpoint that [ɤ] is a transitional monophthong in Mandarin Chinese.