Vol. 16: Proceedings of the 16th International Thematic Conference on Phonetic Research and Applications

Welcome to the Phonetics 2025 Hong Kong International Thematic Conference on Linguistic Research and Applications. This hybrid event enables both in-person participation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and online attendance, bringing together participants from across the world in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.

As an international forum for linguists at all career stages, the Society is dedicated to advancing linguistic research and its practical applications. We encourage both emerging and established researchers to present and engage with current developments in phonetics and related disciplines.

The origins of this conference series date back to 2006 in Athens with the first Workshop on Experimental Linguistics (ExLing), organised under the auspices of ESCA (now ISCA). The workshop was subsequently hosted in cities such as Paris, Saint Petersburg, and Lisbon, and later developed into the annual ExLing Conference under the International Society of Experimental Linguistics.

In 2024, the ExLing Society was restructured as the International Linguistic Society, reflecting a broader vision of hosting multiple conference series throughout the year and providing ongoing opportunities for scholarly exchange.

This volume presents the proceedings of Phonetics 2025 Hong Kong, covering a wide range of topics including consonants and vowels, prosody and intonation, as well as interdisciplinary and applied aspects of phonetics. We also recognise the growing contribution of the Hong Kong phonetics community within the international research landscape.

We extend our sincere thanks to all Phonetics 2025 Hong Kong participants, our keynote speakers—Janet Fletcher, Niels Schiller, and Yi Xu—and colleagues from the International Advisory Committee, the Review Committee, and the Organising Committee for their invaluable contributions to the success of the conference.