Tense-lax vowels in Tibeto-Burman languages: a phonetic analysis of Lahu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36505/TheLinguisticProceedings/2025/16/01/009/000669Keywords:
Lahu, tense-lax vowels, Tibeto-Burman languages, acoustic analysisAbstract
This study examines the phonetic nature of tense-lax vowel contrasts in Lahu, a Tibeto-Burman language. Using acoustic analysis of duration, formants, fundamental frequency, and phonation in minimal pairs produced by four native speakers, the study tests the hypothesis that the contrast operates at the syllable level. The results revealed significant differences in onset consonant duration, vowel quality, tonal duration, and phonation type between tense and lax syllables, while F0 contours largely overlapped. These findings confirm that the tense-lax distinction in Lahu is a coherent syllable-level property rooted in laryngeal articulation, rather than a feature confined solely to the vowel.
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