Voice onset time in monolingual and code switching modes in Lebanese Arabic and English

Abstract

The effect of speaking mode and language in speakers of Lebanese Arabic and English was examined. Voice onset time (VOT) was measured for voiced and voiceless stops in both languages, when speakers were in monolingual mode or code-switching mode. Nine speakers who were highly proficient in English, and used to code-switching, produced 534 tokens in an image-labelling experiment (Olson, 2013; Mayr et al., 2018). Research has found that speakers may produce the same sound differently depending on whether they are in monolingual or bilingual mode (e.g., Olson, 2013; Simonet, 2014; Amengual, 2018). Linear regressions found no significant difference in VOT between conditions (monolingual versus code-switching) or between languages (Arabic versus English). The only significant predictor of VOT was voicing of the stops. Average VOT for voiced and voiceless stops in monolingual Arabic: -59msec & 44msec, monolingual English: -55 ms and 48 ms, code-switched Arabic: -63 ms and 45 ms, and code-switched English: -56 ms and 47 ms. These results indicate voicing during the closure for voiced stops and some aspiration for voiceless stops, and show that speakers do not have separate stop categories for the two languages. Current research is examining monolingual Arabic speakers to determine whether the bilingual speakers have L2 transfer from English aspiration.