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A study on English vowel duration with respect to the various characteristics of the following consonant

후행하는 자음의 여러 특성에 따른 영어 모음 길이에 관한 연구

  • Yoo, Hyunbin (Department of English Language and Literature, Yonsei University) ;
  • Rhee, Seok-Chae (Department of English Language and Literature, Yonsei University)
  • 유현빈 (연세대학교 영어영문학과) ;
  • 이석재 (연세대학교 영어영문학과)
  • Received : 2022.01.24
  • Accepted : 2022.03.02
  • Published : 2022.03.31

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the difference of vowel duration due to the voicing of word-final consonants in English and its relation to the types of word-final consonants (stops vs. fricatives), (partial) devoicing, and stop releasing. Addtionally, this study attempts to interpret the findings from the functional view that the vowels before voiced consonants are produced with a longer duration in order to enhance the salience of the voicing of word-final consonants. This study conducted a recording experiment with English native speakers, and measured the vowel duration, the degree of (partial) devoicing of word-final voiced consonants and the release of word-final stops. First, the results showed that the ratio of the duration difference was not influenced by the types of word-final consonants. Second, it was revealed that the higher the degree of (partial) devoicing of word-final voiced consonants, the longer vowel duration before word-final voiced consonants, which was compatible with the prediction based on the functional view. Lastly, the ratio of the duration difference was greater when the word-final stops were uttered with the release compared to when uttered without the release, which was not consistent with the functional view. These results suggest that it is not sufficient enough to explain the voicing effect by its function of distinguishing the voicing of word-final consonants.

본 연구는 영어에서 어말 자음의 유무성성에 따라 선행하는 모음의 길이에 차이가 나타나는 현상이 어말 자음, (부분) 무성음화 정도, 폐쇄음의 파열 여부와 가지는 상관관계에 대해서 살펴보고자 한다. 또한, 선행 모음의 길이 차이에 대한 여러 설명 중 무성 자음 앞 모음보다 유성 자음 앞 모음을 더 길게 발화하여 어말 자음의 유무성성을 구별한다는 기능적인 관점을 중심으로 연구 결과를 보고자 한다. 본 연구는 영어 원어민 화자들을 대상으로 발화 실험을 진행하고 선행하는 모음의 길이, 어말 유성 자음의 (부분) 무성음화 정도, 어말 폐쇄음의 파열 유무를 측정하였다. 발화 실험 결과, 어말 자음의 유무성성에 따른 선행 모음 길이 차이의 비율은 어말 자음이 폐쇄음인지, 마찰음인지에 따라 달라지지 않았다. 또한, 어말 유성 자음의 (부분) 무성음화 정도가 크게 나타날수록 어말 유성 자음 앞 모음의 길이가 길게 나타나며 기능적 관점에서 예측한 바와 일치하는 결과가 나타났다. 마지막으로, 기능적 관점에 따른 예측과는 다르게 선행 모음 길이 차이의 비율은 어말 폐쇄음이 파열 없이 발화되었을 때보다 파열하여 발화되었을 때 더 크게 나타났다. 이러한 결과는 어말 자음의 유무성성에 따른 선행 모음 발화 길이의 차이를 기능적 관점으로만 설명하기에는 한계가 있다는 것을 시사한다.

Keywords

References

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