Vowel-to-vowel coarticulation in Catalan VCV sequences

Electropalatographic and acoustical data on vowel-to-vowel (V-to-V) coarticulatory effects were obtained for Catalan VCV sequences, with the consonants representing different degrees of tongue-dorsum contact (dorsopalatal approximant j, alveolo-palatal nasal eta, alveolo-palatal lateral lambda, and alveolar nasal n). Results show that the degree of V-to-V coarticulation in linguopalatal fronting and F2 frequency varies monotonically and inversely with the degree of tongue-dorsum contact, carryover effects being larger than anticipatory effects. The temporal extent of coarticulation also varies with the degree of tongue-dorsum contact, much more so for anticipatory effects than for carryover effects. Overall, results indicate that V-to-V coarticulation in VCV sequences is dependent on the mechanical constraints imposed on the tongue dorsum to achieve dorsopalatal closure during the production of the intervening consonant. Moreover, anticipatory effects, but not carryover effects, involve articulatory preprogramming.