Korean Fricatives: Production, Perception, and Laryngeal Typology

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to investigate the contrast between the two voiceless sibilant fricatives of Korean. The results of Experiment 1 show that before /a/, the two fricatives differ in total segment duration, aspiration duration, F1 onset, intensity buildup, and voice quality. The results of Experiment 2 indicate that while segmental duration is not a significant cue in perception, aspiration duration is; the most important cues, however, are qualities of the following vowel. Experiments 3 and 4 replicated Experiments 1 and 2 with the vowel /u/. The results of Experiment 3 confirm those of Experiment 1, except there is no difference in F1 onset or intensity buildup in the high vowel /u/. The results of Experiment 4 show a similar hierarchy of cues, but a much greater deviance from the vocalic cues, suggesting that F1 onset and intensity buildup play an important role in perception. Thus, in spite of consonantal cues distinguishing the fricatives, vocalic cues are dominant in their perception. In having a fricative contrast without a voiced member, Korean constitutes an exception to the laryngeal typology of Jansen (2004). The classification of the non-fortis fricative may require the addition of an aspirated voiceless lenis category to this typology.