14th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS-14)San Francisco, CA, USA |
This paper proposes constraints on the phonetic
interpretation of liquids in English. Resonance categories
usually associated with laterals are shown to be associated
also with rhotics. It is shown that the implementation of
clear/dark alternations in liquids is not only structure dependent
but also dialect-specific.
Data were collected from a representative selection of
British varieties of English. A distinction is drawn between
absolute clearness or darkness of liquids within any given
variety and the relationships of clearness and darkness each
liquid enters into in its phonological system. Distinct
patterns were found for rhotic versus non-rhotic varieties,
reflecting differing systems of contrast.
Questions are raised regarding phasing of gestures in
different varieties of English. A gestural model relies on
intrinsic interpretation of phonological units with reference
to limited structural information; the data presented here
support the need for structural information but challenge the
validity of intrinsic interpretation.
Bibliographic reference. Carter, Paul (1999): "Abstractness in phonology and extrinsic phonetic interpretation: the case of liquids in English", In ICPhS-14, 105-108.