Uvular approximation as an articulatory vowel feature

Abstract

This study explores the phenomenon of uvularization in the vowel systems of two Heishui County varieties of Qiang, a Sino-Tibetan language of Sichuan Province, China. Ultrasound imaging (one speaker) shows that uvularized vowels have two tongue gestures: a rearward gesture, followed by movement toward the place of articulation of the corresponding plain vowel. Time-aligned acoustic and articulatory data show how movement toward the uvula correlates with changes in the acoustic signal. Acoustic correlates of uvularization (taken from two speakers) are seen most consistently in raising of vowel F1, lowering of F2 and in raising of the difference F3-F2. Imaging data and the formant structure of [l] show that uvular approximation can begin during the initial consonant that precedes a uvularized vowel. Uvularization is reflected phonologically in the phonotactic properties of vowels, while vowel harmony aids in the identification of plain–uvularized vowel pairs. The data reported in this paper argue in favor of a revision of the catalog of secondary articulations recognized by the International Phonetic Alphabet, in order to include uvularization, which can be marked with the symbol [ʶ] in the case of approximation and [χ] for secondary uvular frication.

An analysis of Hodgson’s ‘Thochu’

“…Although the plain-uvular distinction has been demonstrated with data from instrumental phonetic studies using ultrasound (Evans et al 2016), J. Sun & Evans have not yet put out a lexicon or a full reinterpretation of Sun Hongkai's materials.…”

“…Both the onsets and the vowels of these forms are varied in the Thochu spelling.17 In the Hongyan variety of Northwestern Rma,Evans et al 2016 attest to gʒə 'four' vs gʒəʶ-suʶ 'forty' . It is possible that the Thochu vowels in these forms had secondary articulations which were not systematically or correctly analyzed by Hodgson.…”

Are neutral roots in Uyghur really neutral? Evaluating a covert phonemic contrast

“…The tendency of neighboring vowels to exert a phonetic influence on one another is strong, particularly if doing so does not eliminate a phonemic contrast (e.g., Öhman, 1966;Alfonso & Baer, 1982;Choi & Keating, 1990;Benus & Gafos, 2007;Cole et al, 2010). Uvulars are also known to exert a backing effect on vowels (e.g., Alwan, 1986;Bessell, 1992;Sylak-Glassman, 2014;Gallagher, 2016;Evans et al, 2016).…”

“You and me against the world”: Direct-inverse morphology in Rma (Qiang)

“…11Evans and Sun represent Máwō segments in a manner more phonologically abstract than Sun (1981) or Liú (1998). For example, they recognize a phonological opposition for Máwō vowels which has been described as plain vs. pharyngealized (Evans 2006a; 2006b), plain vs. velarized (Sun and Evans 2013), and plain vs. uvularized (Evans et al 2016). Sonographic evidence supports the account invoking uvularization, though I have left the data from Sun and Evans 2013 as it originally occurred in print.…”