Phonetic evidence for a three‐vowel system in Kabardian

Abstract

The Kabardian vowel system has been the focus of much debate. Central to this debate is whether or not the low vowel ɑ is quantitatively distinct from the mid vowel ə. This study examines phonetic evidence that bears on this issue. Spectrographic and durational analyses were conducted for 118 vowels taken from a Kabardian text read twice, once slowly and once at a normal rate, by three adult male speakers. Each vowel was measured for its first three formant frequencies and duration. The data reveal that the mean duration of ə is 62.5% that of ɑ, compared to the mean duration of i which is 67.5% that of ə. These figures represent ratios characteristic of intrinsic durational differences rather than distinctive length and support a three‐vowel analysis. Qualitatively, the formant frequency measurements support the claims in the literature that Kabardian vowels contrast uniquely along the height parameter with some frontback allophony for the two higher vowels. Moreover, ɑ has a mean F 1 of 690 Hz as compared to ə which exhibits a mean F 1 of 510 Hz, further supporting a three‐vowel analysis. [Work supported by NSF.]