Spectral Characteristics of Frication Noise in Korean Sibilants

This study investigates spectral characteristics of frication noise in Korean sibilants in terms of center of gravity and skewness. Specifically, the present study seeks to observe the two parameters with emphasis on place of articulation in different vowel environments. This study also examines whether these parameters can discriminate phonation types. The results showed that the fricatives are palatalized in front of the front vowel /i/ and the affricates are articulated at the same place of articulation regardless of the following vowels. This study also suggests that the place of articulation of the fricatives followed by /i/ is the same as those of the Korean affricates. With regard to the phonation type, there was a significant difference in the center of gravity between lax and tense series for both fricatives and affricates.