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Reductive sound change and the perception/productioninterface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Randall Gess
Randall Gess*
Affiliation:
Carleton University
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Abstract

In this article, I propose a phonetically-oriented constraint-based model ofspeech production that differs from recent approaches in assuming preservationconstraints that refer directly to articulatory gestures rather than toperceptual cues. Articulatory gesture preservation constraints interact with aconstraint that penalizes the expenditure of articulatory effort. Specificconstraints and rankings are projected from a static perceptual knowledgesource. Before exploring the model in detail, I address evidence that has beenused to argue against precisely this type of “ArticulatoryPhonology-inspired” approach. The evidence, used to justify the claimthat lenition cannot be modeled as gestural reduction alone, is shown to beproblematic.

Résumé

Résumé

Dans cet article, je propose un modèle de la production de parole qui estbasé sur des contraintes et des principes phonétiques, et qui,contrairement à des approches récentes, faitréférence directe aux gestes articulatoires et non pas aux traitsperceptuels. Les contraintes de préservation des gestes articulatoiresinteragissent avec une contrainte qui pénalise la dépensed’efforts articulatoires. Les contraintes spécifiques et leursclassements sont projetés d’une source de connaissancesperceptuelles statiques. Avant d’explorer le modèle endétail, je discute des données qui ont étéavancées pour disputer l’adéquation de cette sorted’approche, dite inspirée de la phonologie articulatoire. Jemontre que ces données, avancées pour soutenirl’affirmation que la lénition ne peut pas êtremodelée comme la simple réduction des gestes, sontproblématiques.

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Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 54 , Issue 2 , July 2009 , pp. 229 - 253
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2009 

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