Abstract:

Western Andalusian Spanish normally shows aspiration of ∕s∕ in coda position, but post‐, rather than pre‐, closure aspiration in ∕s∕ + ∕p,t,k∕ sequences. This has been hypothesized to be the result of gestural reorganization, with pre‐closure aspiration the result of anti‐phase coordination and post‐closure the result of in‐phase [Torreira, 9th HLS, 2007]. This experiment explores this hypothesis by leveraging the fact that fast speech can lead to instability in gestural organization and even a spontaneous switch from anti‐ to in‐phase coordination [Turvey, Am. Psych., 1990]. Subjects produced words with the target ∕s∕+∕p,t,k∕ sequences in time with an acoustic metronome that steadily increased in rate. Results show three patterns of production: consistent preaspiration, consistent postaspiration, and a transition from pre‐ to post‐aspiration as rate increased, corresponding to anti‐phase, in‐phase, and an anti‐ to in‐phase transition, respectively. Excluding the trials with consistent postaspiration, which would not be expected to transition given their stable in‐phase coordination, postaspiration increases as rate increases. If there were no change in gestural coupling, we would expect the opposite pattern: as rate increases, VOT should decrease. The result thus supports the original hypothesis that postaspiration in these sequences is the result of gestural re‐phasing.