LINGUIST List 12.1893

Wed Jul 25 2001

Qs: Casual Speech Phonology in Japanese

Editor for this issue: Karen Milligan <karenlinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy, Query on casual speech in Japanese

Query: Casual speech phonology, Japanese

A PhD student here, Junji Kawai, intends to do research on phonetic 
and phonological differences between 'standard' and colloquial (or 
casual) Japanese. Examples inolve both what looks like lenition 
(e.g. [teSimau] --> [tSau]) and what looks like fortition (e.g. 
[dekai] --> [dekkai]). He would be interested to hear about:
(a) any studies of this phenomenon in Japanese from the point of 
view of general phonological theory;
(b) any studies of differences between colloquial and formal speech 
styles in any language in terms of Optimality Theory.

We are aware of discussion of 'allegro' phenomena in 'Natural 
Phonology' (David Stampe, Wolfgang U. Dressler). However, the 
difference between standard and colloquial speech styles in Japanese 
is independent of speed of delivery, so it is not clear that this 
work is relevant. 

Please reply to me or to Junji <j.kawaiasia.canterbury.ac.nz>. If 
we find out anything interesting, we will produce a summary for the 
List.


- Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy
Professor and Head of Department
Department of Linguistics, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 
4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
phone (work) +64-3-364 2211; (home) +64-3-355 5108
fax +64-3-364 2969
e-mail a.c-mccling.canterbury.ac.nz
http://www.ling.canterbury.ac.nz/adc-m.html