An articulatory basis for the labial-to-coronal effect: /pata/ seems a more stable articulatory pattern than /tapa/.
This paper investigates the coordination between the jaw, the tongue tip, and the lower lip during repetition with rate increase of labial-to-coronal (L(a)C(o)) consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel disyllables (e.g., /pata/) and coronal-to-labial (C(o)L(a)) ones (e.g., /tapa/) by French speakers. For the two types of disyllables: (1) the speeding process induces a shift from two jaw cycles per disyllable to a single cycle; (2) this shift modifies the coordination between the jaw and the constrictors, and (3) comes with a progression toward either a L(a)C(o) attractor [e.g., (/pata/ or /tapa/) --> /patá/ --> /ptá/] or a C(o)L(a) one (e.g., /pata/ or /tapa/ --> /tapá/ --> /tpá/). Yet, (4) the L(a)C(o) attractor is clearly favored regardless of the initial sequencing. These results are interpreted as evidence that a L(a)C(o) CVCV disyllable could be a more stable coordinative pattern for the lip-tongue-jaw motor system than a C(o)L(a) one. They are discussed in relation with the so-called LC effect that is the preference for L(a)C(o) associations rather than C(o)L(a) ones in CV.CV disyllables in both world languages and infants' first words.
Rochet-Capellan
Amélie
A
Institut de la Communication Parlée, UMR5009 CNRS/INPG/Université Stendhal, 46 Avenue Félix Viallet, 38031 Grenoble Cedex 01, France. amelie.rochet-capellan@icp.inpg.fr
Schwartz
Jean-Luc
JL
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007802:Language; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012984:Software; D013016:Sound; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013062:Speech Articulation Tests; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*