Perceptual basis of vowel‐duration differences

Abstract

Lisker [Glossa, 8(2), 233–246 (1974)] has shown that there existed no viable explanation of vowel duration differences associated with the voicing state of the following consonant. Lisker's conclusion, that such differences are due to constraints of English, does not adequately explain such differences in other languages. Scully [Stockholm Speech Commun. Sem. 327–234 (1974)] suggests that such differences are due to the different aerodynamic conditions that occur depending on the voicing state of the following consonant. Scully's aerodynamic model does not provide resulting entirely consistent with speech data, however, and is therefore open to question. A different kind of explanation may be needed. Experimental evidence from 12 English speakers suggests that voiced (voiceless) consonants make the preceding vowel appear to be longer (shorter). Although these results have yet to be tested with speakers of other languages, they support an interesting hypothesis: the voicing of the following consonant, by continuing the voicing cue present in the vowel, may create the illusion of greater length. Such an illusion, acting as an input to phonological acquisition, may explain the observed vowel duration differences. [Work supported by NSF.]