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Southeastern French Nasal Vowels: Perceptual and Acoustic Elements

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Anne Violin-Wigent
Anne Violin-Wigent*
Affiliation:
Michigan State University
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Abstract

This article describes the realization of nasal vowels in the southeast of France. Southeastern French retains four nasal vowels , contrary to more innovative varieties of French. The perceptual analysis based on eight participants shows that, for most of the instances of each of the four nasal vowels, the pronunciation is different from that of Reference French. Additionally, these nasal vowels are followed by a nasal closure in about 10% of cases, especially in front of a pause or stop. The perceptual analysis is supplemented by an acoustic description, based on two speakers, one male and one female. The acoustic description gives support to the perceptual analysis, showing the existence of the nasal closure and the realization of /ã/ as [ã], as [ẽ], and /õ/ as .

Résumé

Résumé

Cet article décrit la prononciation des voyelles nasales dans le sud-est de la France. Le français du sud-est se caractérise par quatre voyelles nasales , contrairement à d’autres variétés de français plus innovatrices. L’analyse perceptuelle, basée sur huit participants, montre que, pour la plupart des réalisations de chacune de ces quatre voyelles, la prononciation est différente de celle du français de référence. En outre, ces voyelles nasales sont suivies d’une fermeture nasale dans environ 10% des cas, surtout devant une pause ou une occlusive. Une description acoustique, basée sur deux locuteurs, un homme et une femme, vient compléter l’analyse perceptuelle. Cette description acoustique soutient l’analyse perceptuelle, montrant l’existence de la fermeture nasale et la prononciation de /ã/ en [ã], de en [ë] et de /õ/ en .

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 15 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2006 

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