Understanding the phonetics of neutralisation : a variability-field account of vowel/zero alternations in a Hijazi dialect of Arabic
This thesis throws new light on issues debated in the experimental literature on neutralisation. They concern the extent of phonetic merger (the completeness question) and the empirical validity of the phonetic effect (the genuineness question). Regarding the completeness question, I present acoustic and perceptual analyses of vowel/zero alternations in Bedouin Hijazi Arabic (BHA) that appear to result in neutralisation. The phonology of these alternations exemplifies two neutralisation scenarios bearing on the completeness question. Until now, these scenarios have been investigated separately within small-scale studies. Here I look more closely at both, testing hypotheses involving the acoustics-perception relation and the phonetics-phonology relation. I then discuss the genuineness question from an experimental and statistical perspective. Experimentally, I devise a paradigm that manipulates important variables claimed to influence the phonetics of neutralisation. Statistically, I reanalyse neutralisation data reported in the literature from Turkish and Polish. I apply different pre-analysis procedures which, I argue, can partly explain the mixed results in the literature. My inquiry into these issues leads
Almihmadi, M. M.
Understanding the phonetics of neutralisation : a variability-field account of vowel/zero alternations in a Hijazi dialect of Arabic. This thesis throws new light on issues debated in the experimental literature on neutralisation. They concern the extent of phonetic merger (the completeness question) and the empirical validity of the phonetic effect (the genuineness question). Regarding the completeness question, I present acoustic and perceptual analyses of vowel/zero alternations in Bedouin Hijazi Arabic (BHA) that appear to result in neutralisation. The phonology of these alternations exemplifies two neutralisation scenarios bearing on the completeness question. Until now, these scenarios have been investigated separately within small-scale studies. Here I look more closely at both, testing hypotheses involving the acoustics-perception relation and the phonetics-phonology relation. I then discuss the genuineness question from an experimental and statistical perspective. Experimentally, I devise a paradigm that manipulates important variables claimed to influence the phonetics of neutralisation. Statistically, I reanalyse neutralisation data reported in the literature from Turkish and Polish. I apply different pre-analysis procedures which, I argue, can partly explain the mixed results in the literature. My inquiry into these issues leads
phonetics variability field account vowel zero alternation dialect_arabic throw_new light issue debate experimental literature concern_extent phonetic merger completeness question empirical validity phonetic effect question regarding completeness question present acoustic_perceptual analysis vowel zero alternation arabic appear phonology alternation exemplify scenario bear completeness question scenario investigate separately within small_scale study look_closely test_hypothesis involve perception relation phonetics phonology relation discus question experimental statistical perspective experimentally devise paradigm important variable claim influence phonetics statistically data report literature turkish polish apply different pre analysis procedure argue partly explain mixed literature inquiry issue lead