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Abstract

Abstract

This paper examines lateral (/l/) variation in Yami, an indigenous language of Orchid Island, Taiwan. New acoustic evidence on F2–F1 distance and duration shows that palatalized laterals [lj] in Yami are characterized by greater formant distance and longer duration. These acoustic correlates are influenced by a mixed bag of social and linguistic factors, indicating the need for a coordinated assessment of these factors. Results also suggest that in general, younger, less-rooted, and Mandarin-dominant speakers have a narrower formant distance and shorter duration, indicating a less palatal-like /l/ pronunciation. The loss of [lj] among these speakers may be linked to a rapidly changing linguistic ecology, which fuels cross-linguistic transfer from Mandarin, the language of communication with outsiders. Since [lj] only occurs in Yami, younger speakers may have converged towards Mandarin and predominantly use [l]s, leading to a restructuring process in Yami phonology.

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2024-01-11
2025-04-27

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/content/journals/10.1075/aplv.20003.lai
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Sociophonetic variation in the alveolar lateral in Yami
Asia-Pacific Language Variation 9, 195 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1075/aplv.20003.lai
/content/journals/10.1075/aplv.20003.lai
/content/journals/10.1075/aplv.20003.lai
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): cross-linguistic transfer; language contact; lateral; linguistic ecology; palatalized; rootedness; Yami; 語音接觸; 跨語言影響; 邊音; 雅美（達悟）語; 顎化

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