Aerodynamic Evidence for Articulatory Overlap in Korean

Abstract

Abstract Aerodynamic evidence indicates the existence of overlapped labial//velar sequences in Korean. Oral pressure readings for [ipku] show a brief rarefaction in oral pressure during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue retraction during a front-back vowel sequence occurs simultaneously with full closures at the labial and velar places of articulation. This confluence of phenomena results in the observed pressure rarefaction due to expansion of the sealed oral cavity. Similarly, pressure readings for [upki] show a brief, marked increase during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue advancement during a back-front vowel sequence temporally overlaps with full closures at both the labial and velar places of articulation. This results in a pressure increase due to contraction of the sealed oral cavity. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate consonant coproduction in terms of oral pressure, and to report on coarticulatory effects involving four sequenced segments.