On the neutralizing status of Polish word-final devoicing

• Published in: Journal of phonetics Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 325 - 341
• Main Authors: Slowiaczek, Louisa M., Dinnsen, Daniel A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.07.1985; Seminar Press
• ISSN: 0095-4470; 1095-8576
• DOI: 10.1016/S0095-4470(19)30763-6

Within phonological theory a fundamental distinction is made between rules that are neutralizing and those that are non-neutralizing. Recent experimental research has examined a number of neutralization rules and found that underlying contrasts are, in fact, phonetically preserved. These findings have raised a number of questions about the character of neutralization rules. This paper examines the phonetic effects of word-final devoicing in Polish across different places and manners of articulation, in different phonetic contexts as produced by five different speakers. Fifteen pairs of words (distinguished by underlying voicing of the word-final obstruent) were recorded in two contexts (__# C and __# V). Measurements were obtained for the final consonant closure duration, voicing into closure, and preceding vowel duration. The results demonstrate that the rule of word-final devoicing in Polish is not neutralizing for the group of Polish speakers studied nor for any of the individual speakers. The underlying voice distinction is preserved phonetically. However, the manner in which it is preserved varies depending on phonetic context, place and manner of articulation, and individual speaker. This variation is, nonetheless, systematic and must be accounted for by phonetic implementation rules that are sensitive to abstract phonological distinctions.