Mandible height and syllable‐final tenseness

Abstract

The pellet movement data obtained by the computer‐controlled x‐ray microbeam system, as reported on previously [O. Fujimura, J. E. Miller, and S. Kiritani, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 60, 64(A) (1976)], reveal considerable dependence of mandible height on the tenseness distinction of the final apical consonants. Data of three male native speakers of American English have been examined. In a comparison of /tεt/ and /tεd/, for example, the mandible takes a higher position for /t/ than for /d/ around the final closure period. Initial /t/ and /d/ do not reveal such difference in the data on the same subjects. The tendency is consistent among different speakers and phonetic contexts. In some cases, mandible height for the syllable nucleus is also affected considerably by the final tenseness. Cooperation of Dr. Shigeru Kiritani and Professor Masayuki Sawashima of the University of Tokyo is gratefully acknowledged.