A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The production of voicing in Namibian English stops by speakers of Khoekhoegowab
Authors: Haapanen, Katja; Saloranta, Antti; Peltola, Kimmo U; Tamminen, Henna; Uwu-khaeb, Lannie; Peltola, Maija S
Publisher: Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistys AFinLA ry
Publication year: 2024
Journal: AFinLA-teema
Volume: 17
Issue: 17
First page : 77
Last page: 90
ISSN: 2814-6298
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30660/afinla.132034
Web address : https://journal.fi/afinla/article/view/132034
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/454680302
This study examines whether Namibian English spoken by L1 Khoekhoegowab speakers has word-initial stop voicing contrasts, and how they might be realized in freely produced speech. The data consists of English interviews collected from nine speakers of Namibian English. For analysis, a total of 365 words beginning with a stop-vowel sequence were extracted from the interviews, and analyzed for voice onset time (VOT). To examine the realization of voicing, the extracted words are divided into voiced and voiceless categories based on their phonological voicing in other varieties of English and their VOTs are compared statistically. The VOTs of voiceless stops are significantly longer than those of voiced stops. The results suggest a short-lag vs. aspiration contrast in word-initial stops in Namibian English and provide new information about the phonetic features of Namibian English consonants.
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