Re: Questions (mostly about phonemics)

Leon Lin wrote:

> Hello,
>
> These have been confusing me to the point that I start to try to figure
> them
> out in public. People sometimes stare at me when I repeat a phoneme/word
> over and over again.
Welcome to the club!!
>
> 1. Is it possible to distinguish two final unreleased consanants? i.e. Is
> there a sound difference between "back there" and "bat there"
In English I think, yes-- mainly because /t/ in that environment can > [?],
which is distinct from unreleased [k]. If one heard an unknown lang. (e.g.
like Indonesian/Malay, which typically has unreleased final stops), it might
be more difficult. Actually, if you look at spectrograms, there is a
definite difference-- the final stop has an effect on the preceding vowel.
>
> 2. I have heard some people call words with syllabic consanants like
> "button" a 'nasal release'. Isn't this just a glottal stop followed by an
> /n/?
The thing is, in Engl., the /-n/ is always syllabic. There are 3 ways of
looking at such words, all permissible: 1) the /t/ is unreleased and tongue
tip doesn't move, but the velum lowers, the glottis opens, voicing begins
and the release is thru the nose [kIt|n=] 2) the /t/ is [?], but transitions
to open, simultaneously the velum lowers+tongue goes to alveolar
position+voicing begins and the syll. /n=/ is heard, approx. [kI?n=] or 3)
the t is indeed released (unaspirated), and there is a definite [@] heard
before the final /n/. This is a very precise, almost affected pronunciation,
and will remind many of 3rd grade teachers....;-)))

Again, if you look at these with a spectrogram or other measuring
instrument, the difference will be clear.

3. Is stress also accompanied by a raise in pitch (in English)?

I think so, in ordinary speech. I can imagine expressions of
disgust/semi-curses where it might go down-- Oh Héll! Oh dámn, oh shít! etc.
where for me the contour would be 2(or even 3)-->1

Italian (I think) goes down on the stressed syllable. So does American
parody of Swedish...(sorry 'bout that, guys). And so, apparently, does
Jakarta dialect of Indonesian-- I know we learners found it very difficult
to imitate.
>
> === If you speak Mandarin ===
Can't comment.............

Now to see what others have had to say (while I was writing this, several
other replies arrived.)

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