SRPP Consonant Contrasts and Vowel Contexts: Typology, Perception, Sound Change

With coarticulation between neighboring segments, the phonetic properties of a consonant often vary across different vowel contexts. When focusing the contrast of two consonants, their relative perceptual distinction often differs across vowel contexts. This talk focuses on the consonant contrasts in Chinese dialects, making connections between phonological typology, the results from perceptual experiments, and patterns in sound change. A phonological typology suggests that, for example, the high front vowel [_i] usually differs from other vowels in the presence/absence of a consonant contrast; the results of perceptual experiments indicate that two consonants can be perceptually less distinct in the [_i] context than in other vowel contexts; certain patterns from typology and perception turn out to be consistent with the historical development of a sound system, for which discussions are made on the interpretation and implication.