Nasal coarticulation in clear speech.

Abstract

This study tests whether speakers, when trying to speak clearly, employ variable enhancement strategies as a function of phonetic environment. Using aerodynamic and acoustical methods, this study examines the effects of phonemic context and speaking modality and on the spatial and temporal extent of anticipatory nasal coarticulation in English. Target words are English (C)VNCvoiced (e.g., bend) and (C)VNCvoiceless (e.g., bent) words spoken in either clear or citation speech modes. In order to enhance the percept of /n/ in clear speech, speakers increase the duration of the nasal consonant in CVNCvoiced words but marginally increase, or even decrease, /n/ duration in CVNCvoiceless words. While highly variable, airflow results suggest little difference on anticipatory nasalization as a function of speech mode. These results argue against models predicting a global reduction in coarticulation in clear speech.