Vowel acoustics in three dialects of Spanish: Iberian, Dominican, and Mexican

Abstract

A growing number of studies have begun to investigate vowel variability among Spanish speakers. The purpose of this study was to measure the acoustics of vowels in three dialects of Spanish and to compare how these dialects vary in their vowel production. This information is important for speech and language clinicians working with dialectally diverse individuals to recognize the difference between typical dialectal variation and a speech/language disorder. We specifically examined dialects that have developed separately from each other and also have large numbers of speakers. Data were obtained from five female speakers in each of these groups: Iberian speakers, Dominican speakers, and Mexican speakers (N = 15). To analyze the effect of speaking task on production variation, we elicited a controlled speaking task and a naturalistic speaking task. For the controlled task, the participants were asked to read aloud randomized phrases on a computer screen. For the naturalistic task, participants were presented with a simple map from which to give navigation instructions. The results showed differences in average vowel placement and token-to-token variability. These data disprove previous hypotheses that vowels are stable across Spanish dialects.