Keywords

vowel trajectory variation, sociolinguistic meaning of formants, consonant effects on vowel shifts

Abstract

Conclusions

Summary:

  • Here, as the vowels lowered/retracted, their trajectories changed too.
  • This is not always the case! (cf. Stanley et al. forthcoming)
  • Not an artifact of modeling! Each cohort had independent model fits.

Take-away:

  • There is more to a vowel shift than its midpoints.
  • More work needed on vowel trajectories to better describe change.

Sociolinguistics of vowel formant trajectories?

  • What kind of sociolinguistic meanings are associated with trajectories?
  • Yes, surrounding consonants affect trajectories
  • They affect midpoints too but they still carry sociolinguistic meaning.
  • Are we comfortable assuming trajectories are 100% phonetic?
  • Are these trajectory differences perceptible?
  • Stay tuned for experimental work on simulated trajectories!

Original Publication Citation

Joseph A. Stanley. “Beyond Midpoints: Vowel Dynamics of the Low-Back-Merger Shift.” Poster presentation at the 181st Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). Seattle, WA. November 29, 2021.

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2021

Publisher

181st Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America

Language

English

College

Humanities

Department

Linguistics

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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