LINGUIST List 20.2432

Wed Jul 08 2009

Diss: Phonetics/Phonology: Hirayama: 'Postlexical Prosodic...'

Editor for this issue: Di Wdzenczny <dilinguistlist.org>

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        1.    Manami Hirayama, Postlexical Prosodic Structure and Vowel Devoicing in Japanese

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Message 1: Postlexical Prosodic Structure and Vowel Devoicing in Japanese
Date: 05-Jul-2009
From: Manami Hirayama <manami.hirayamautoronto.ca>
Subject: Postlexical Prosodic Structure and Vowel Devoicing in Japanese
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Institution: University of Toronto Program: Department of Linguistics Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 2009

Author: Manami Hirayama

Dissertation Title: Postlexical Prosodic Structure and Vowel Devoicing in Japanese

Dissertation URL: http://twpl.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/twpl/article/view/6494

Linguistic Field(s): Phonetics                             Phonology
Subject Language(s): Japanese (jpn)
Dissertation Director:
Keren D. Rice Laura Marcela Colantoni Peter Avery
Dissertation Abstract:

The thesis explores the nature of postlexical representation, as comparedto lexical representation. In particular, focusing on prosodicrepresentations, the question is asked as to whether the representationreally alters when it appears to do so.

I investigate this question through a study of the postlexical process ofHigh Vowel Devoicing/Deletion (HVD) in Japanese. In this process, apparentconsonant clusters are created, with the apparent deletion of the vowel,and of the syllable and mora units projected from the vowel in the lexicaldomain. Two questions are raised. First, is the prosodic unit deleted inHVD? Second, does the prosodic inventory change in the postlexical domain;do these apparent consonant clusters actually form clusters linearly withthe deletion of the vowel in the postlexical representation?

The literature on HVD shows disagreement. Some researchers argue that thesyllable unit is maintained (e.g., Beckman 1996) while others argue fordesyllabification (e.g., Kondo 1997). Some researchers argue for thedeletion of the vowel (e.g., Beckman & Shoji 1984) while others argue thatthe vowel is not deleted but rather devoiced (e.g., McCawley 1968, Tsuchida1997).

The thesis presents the following claims. First, the syllable unit and themora unit are maintained in the postlexical domain in Japanese. By showingthat the lexical accent contrasts are maintained in pitch contours in HVD,I conclude that the syllable unit remains present in HVD. With respect tothe mora, by examining places where the mora is important (e.g., poetry), Ishow that there is no evidence for demoraification with HVD.

Second, the syllable and mora inventories do not change in the postlexicaldomain in Japanese. I specifically test the hypothesis that HVD derivessyllabic/moraic voiceless consonants. Considering the consequences of thishypothesis for segmental processes and the learning process along with theperception of Japanese speakers, I conclude that the apparent consonantclusters are best analyzed not as clusters postlexically, and that theprosodic inventory does not alter. Rather, segments and prosodic units areall kept intact as in the lexical representation, with the vowel undergoingHVD remaining present in the representation.

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