Phonetic properties of the non-modal phonation in Shanghainese register contrast

Abstract

Earlier literature documented that the tonal registers of Shanghainese were distinguished by both pitch and breathy voice, although recent studies suggested that young speakers might have lost the non-modal phonation. The goal of our present study is two-fold: (1) with the development of analytic tools, we extensively investigated the acoustic and articulatory properties of the breathy voice in Shanghainese; (2) with the ongoing sound change in mind, we recruited a large pool of speakers, born from 1930s to 2000s, so that we are able to discuss the different strategies in producing the register contrast among speakers. Simultaneous audio and EGG signals were collected. Statistical models suggested that speakers born after 1980 use different strategies in producing the register contrast. For older speakers, overall, the lower register has a breathy phonation type: periodicity and noise measures (HNR and CPP) are the most important acoustic correlates, followed by spectral tilts (H1-A1, H1-A2, and H1-A3); a...