Haskins Publications

Number	669
Year	1989
Drawer	12
Entry Date	11/15/1999
Authors	Fowler, C.
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Publication	Ecological Psychology, 1(2), 145-160.
url	http://www.haskins.yale.edu/Reprints/HL0669.pdf
Abstract	I agree with Diehl and Klunder (1989) that perceptual constraints guide the development of sound inventories and of phonological processes in languages. I disagree that these constraints are primary in comparison with other influences on sound inventories, such as articulatory ones. More important, I disagree that any of the evidence that Diehl and Kluender cite, indicates that objects of perception are auditory or acoustic rather than phonetic gestural. None of the evidence is persuasive; all of it is consistent with a view that perceptual objects are gestural. Viewed in a larger context - of a universal theory of perception - a theory that perceptual objects are gestural, whereas acoustic structure serves as information for gestures, is strongly promoted.
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