Non-glottalization in Korean Fortis Consonants

Abstract

It is claimed that the three types of obstruent consonants in Korean (fortis/lenis/aspirated) are currently undergoing a diachronic change in articulation in that the differences in the voice onset time (VOT, in association with the degree of aspiration) is becoming not completely contrastive while the contrasts in pitch height (fundamental frequency) surface as a more reliable perceptual cue. Controversy still exists whether this change brings in concomitant modifications in other articulatory dimensions, especially the presence of glottalization, commonly used to manifest the notion of articulatory fortisness in the literature. The aim of this study is to examine whether the presence/ absence of glottalization holds in the contrast of fortis/ lenis consonants in the contemporary Korean language, by directly observing the glottal states via a trans-nasal fiberscope (laryngoscope). Our results elicited from Seoul subjects in younger generation of 30s show that the glottal constriction states of Korean fortis consonants exhibit no observable glottalization, in terms of the Six Valves of Throat Framework for sub-glottal reinforcements. Keywords: Laryngoscope; Korean language; Glottalization; Fortis consonants Resume On a propose que les trois types des consonnes obstruante du coreen (fortis/lenis/aspirees) sont en cours de changement diachronique de leur articulation. Les differences de delai de voisement (ou VOT), marquant differents degres d’aspiration ne sont plus completement contrastives, tandis que les differences de hauteur melodique (F0) sont devenues des indices plus fiables en perception. Les opinions divergent sur la question de savoir si ce changement entraine des modifications concominantes sur d’autres dimensions articulatoires, notamment la glottalisation, souvent consideree dans la litterature comme correlat de l’articulation “fortis”. Notre etude vise a examiner si la presence/absence de glottalisation est maintenue dans le contraste fortis/lenis des occlusives du coreen contemporain, a l’aide de l’observation directe de la glotte par fibroscopie nasale (laryngoscopie). Nos resultats obtenus avec des locuteurs de Seoul âges d’une trentaine d’annees ne montrent pour la constriction glottale des consonnes fortis aucun des signes de glottalisation proposes dans le cadre des “Six Valves of Throat for sub-glottal reinforcements” [six valves de gorge pour le renforcement sub-glottique] de Edmondson & Esling. Mots cles: Laryngoscopie; Langue coreenne; Glottalisation; Consonnes fortis