Tongue body constriction differences in click types
| Number | 1492 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2008 |
| Drawer | 26 |
| Entry Date | 05/29/2008 |
| Authors | Miller, A., Namaseb, L. & Iskarous, K. |
| Contact | |
| Publication | In Jennifer Cole & Jose Ignacio Hualde (Eds.) Laboratory Phonology 9, Mouton de Greuyter is a Division of Walter De Gruyter Inc. Berlin, New York, pp. 643-656. |
| url | http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL1492.pdf |
| Abstract | We investigate the articulatory bases of the Back Vowel Constraint (BVC), where post-alveolar clicks pattern with uvulars and epiglottals in retracting and lowering [i], while palatal and dental clicks pattern with coronals and labials in occurring freely with [i]. Click production is thought to involve a velaric airstream mechanism, with the back edge of the cavity formed by a velar constriction. However, if all clicks have a velar posterior constriction, there is no explanation for their different patterning. We investigate the posterior constriction location (CL) of palatal and post-alveolar clicks. The posterior CL is measured relative to the shadow of the jaw bone in ultrasound images. Results show that the posterior CL for the post-alveolar and palatal clicks are in the uvular and pharyngeal regions respectively. Posterior constriction differences between clicks are the articulatory basis for the BVC, with the motivation being at the motor control level. The palatal click and [i] share the same agonist-antagonist pair of muscles, posterior genioglossus and hyoglossus, and can thus be easily sequenced. Conversely, the post-alveolar click involves a uvular posterior constriction involving styloglossus and anterior genioglossus muscles. The BVC is a phonological consequence of the difficulty of coproducing segments involving incompatible muscular systems. |
| Notes |
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