Abstract
This article presents a study of measures of center of gravity (COG) in phrase-final fricative epithesis (PFFE) produced by L1 and L2 speakers of Continental French (CF). Participants completed a reading task targeting 98 tokens of /i,y,u/ in phrase-final position. COG measures were taken at the 25%, 50% and 75% marks, normalized and submitted to a mixed linear regression. Results revealed that L2 speakers showed higher COG values than L1 speakers in low PFFE-to-vowel ratios at the 25%, 50%, and 75% marks. COG measures were then categorized into six profile types on the basis of their frequencies at each timepoint: flat–low, flat–high, rising, falling, rising–falling, and falling–rising. Counts of COG profile were then submitted to multinomial logistic regression. Results revealed that although L1 speakers produced predominantly flat–low profile types at lower percent devoicings, L2 speakers preferred multiple strategies involving higher levels of articulatory energy (rising, falling, rise–fall). These results suggest that while L1 speakers realize PFFE differently with respect to phonological context, L2 speakers rely on its most common allophone, strong frication, in most contexts. As such, the findings of this study argue for an additional phonetic dimension in the construct of L2 sociophonetic competence.
Highlights
The findings of this study argue for an additional phonetic dimension in the construct of L2 sociophonetic competence
Phrase-final fricative epithesis (PFFE), a phenomenon known in the literature as phrase-final vowel devoicing (PFVD), refers to a well-attested phenomenon in Continental French (CF) in which breath group-final vowels lose their voicing and produce a short burst of high-frequency aperiodic energy, akin to a fricative, e.g., mais oui_hhh [mεwiç], merci beaucoup_hhh [mεKsibokux]
From the package lmerTest (Kuznetsova et al 2017), a mixed-effects linear regression model was performed for each timepoint, with center of gravity (COG) as the dependent variable; vowel, speaker group, and fricative-vowel ratio (FVR) as independent variables; and participant treated as a random effect
Summary
(Fagyal and Moisset 1999; Smith 2002, 2003, 2006; Martin 2004) and most European researchers preferring a name focusing on the emergence of the downstream fricative—“fricative epithesis/épithèse (consonantique) fricative” (Fagyal 2010; Candea 2012; Candea et al 2013). Languages 2020, 5, 59; doi:10.3390/languages5040059 www.mdpi.com/journal/languages most European researchers preferring a name focusing on the emergence of the downstream fricative—“fricative epithesis/épithèse (consonantique) fricative” (Fagyal 2010; Candea 2012; Candea et al 2013). Because the present study will focus on characterizing the spectral and durational qualities of the emergent fricative, we the (North American) authors have explicitly chosen to heed the call of Languages 2020, 5, 59 our European predecessors in adopting the term “fricative epithesis” for this discussion.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
