Acoustic investigation of anticipatory vowel nasalization in a Caribbean and a non-Caribbean dialect of Spanish

Abstract

Spanish dialectology observes that dialects with a preference for velarized variants of /n/ (e.g. Caribbean dialects) include nasalized vocalic allophones in their inventory. Instrumental cross-dialectal comparisons of Spanish anticipatory nasalization, however, remain surprisingly rare. To this end, I compare the time-course of nasality in pre-nasal vowels in Argentine and Dominican Spanish, as well as across a number of linguistic variables described in the phonetic, sociolinguistic and historical literature. Twenty-eight speakers from Santo Domingo and twenty-six from Buenos Aires were recorded with a nasometer, an ideal instrument for data collection in the field. Measurements of nasal energy were extracted to acoustically characterize the time-course of nasality. Results indicate that Dominican speakers present more extensive anticipatory vowel nasalization than Argentine speakers. These findings are consistent with observations of allophonic nasalization (i.e. phonologized) in the Caribbean dialect under study, Dominican Spanish. Regarding the linguistic variables, stressed pre-nasal vowels showed earlier onset of nasalization, particularly among the Caribbean speakers, which further provides support for the phonological differences in vowel nasality.

On covariation between nasal consonant weakening and anticipatory vowel nasalization: Evidence from a Caribbean and a non-Caribbean dialect of Spanish

“…[ŋ]-dialects of Spanish are conceivable. Bongiovanni (2021) showed that the [ŋ]-dialect under study exhibited earlier onset of nasalization across a number of conditions. So, it is likely that Santo Domingo Spanish exhibits greater consonant weakening as well.…”

“…With the previous research as a backdrop, in Bongiovanni (2021), I analyzed the time course of nasalization in Santo Domingo and Buenos Aires Spanish to test the phonetic underpinnings of anticipatory vowel nasalization in an [ŋ]-and an [n]-dialect, respectively. Findings revealed that onset of nasalization was earlier for Santo Domingo than for Buenos Aires Spanish.…”

“…A priori, the evidence above suggests that [n]-dialects would be just as susceptible to covariation pressures. At the same time, dialectal differences in the time-course of nasalization have been documented (Lederer, 2000, cited in Lederer, 2003Bongiovanni, 2021). If the differences in the timing of nasalization are purely the result of nasal consonant weakening, one would expect an [ŋ]-dialect to exhibit greater nasal consonant weakening than an [n]-dialect.…”

“…If the differences in the timing of nasalization are purely the result of nasal consonant weakening, one would expect an [ŋ]-dialect to exhibit greater nasal consonant weakening than an [n]-dialect. But, if dialectal differences are akin to Solé's (1992Solé's ( , 1995 distinction between low-and high-level nasalization (or, phonetic or coarticulatory versus phonologized), as documented in Lederer (2000, cited in Lederer, 2003 and Bongiovanni (2021), variable vowel nasalization may not be fully ascribed to /n/ attenuation. This scenario raises the genuine possibility that, at least for the [ŋ]-dialect, nasalization is not a marker of nasal consonant weakening, but an intended feature of the vowel in and of itself.…”

“…First, /n/ weakening among [ŋ]-dialects is well-documented, impressionistically, as well as instrumentally (Cedergren & Sankoff, 1975;Colantoni & Kochetov, 2012;D'Introno & Sosa, 1988;Haché de Yunén, 1981;Kochetov & Colantoni, 2011;López Morales, 1980;Ramsammy, 2011Ramsammy, , 2013Terrell, 1975;Trigo, 1988). Second, when compared to [n]-dialects, [ŋ]-dialects also show earlier onset of nasalization (Bongiovanni, 2021, Lederer, 2000, cited in Lederer, 2003. Despite the well-documented dialectal differences and covariation pressures in anticipatory vowel nasalization, instrumental studies examining Spanish weakening of the nasal consonant together with anticipatory vowel nasalization are scarce, if not lacking.…”