Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

A cross-linguistic study of the role of the jaw in consonant articulation

Lee, Sook-hyang

Abstract Details

1994, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Linguistics.

This thesis investigates the role of the jaw in the articulation of Arabic, French, and Korean consonants. Using jaw position data, it tests two recently developed theories of the relationship between phonological and phonetic representations: Keating's Window model and Browman and Goldstein's Articulatory Phonology framework. It also tests Goldstein's (1991) specific proposal within the Articulatory Phonology framework that the jaw's common function in the coordinative structures for labial, coronal, and dorsal constrictions differentiates these oral consonants from guttural consonants, which behave as a natural class in Arabic phonology.

The data are generally much less compatible with the Window model (which assumes invariant targets for the jaw, i.e., ranges of observed spatial values with contextual variability) than with the Articulatory Phonology model (which says 'gestures', or constrictions involving vocal tract variables are the targets in speech and treats the jaw as only a member of the coordinative structure for the constrictions). The data, however, suggest that the Articulatory Phonology model might be improved by allowing for the direct control for an individual articulator, the jaw, during strident fricatives, where targets might need some consideration of acoustic or auditory effects of shapes besides those involved in the constriction proper.

Also jaw involvement in the articulation of some guttural consonants for some speakers provides evidence against Goldstein's specific hypothesis. An alternative is suggested: rather than such a categorical binary distinction (the jaw does or does not participate), there is a continuum of degrees of participation and also varied roles.

Mary E. Beckman (Advisor)
Michel T. T. Jackson (Committee Member)
Elizabeth V. Hume (Committee Member)
124 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lee, S.-H. (1994). A cross-linguistic study of the role of the jaw in consonant articulation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1283177636

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lee, Sook-hyang. A cross-linguistic study of the role of the jaw in consonant articulation. 1994. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1283177636.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lee, Sook-hyang. "A cross-linguistic study of the role of the jaw in consonant articulation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 1994. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1283177636

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)