The Effects of Gestural Overlap on the Acquisition of English Word-final Obstruent Clusters

The Effects of Gestural Overlap on the Acquisition of English Word-final Obstruent Clusters

  The main purpose of this study is to define the markedness of English word-final obstruent clusters based on articulatory factors associated with each consonant sequence. In particular, based on the notion that well-formed sequences will be least overlapped and least variable (Browman and Goldstein 1990b, Byrd 1996), this study develops the Degree of Gestural Overlap parameter such that a consonant sequence with less gestural overlap is easier for language learners to acquire than a consonant sequence with more gestural overlap. This study tests the validity of this parameter through thirty Korean speakers’ production of English word-final obstruent clusters. Results of the experiment demonstrate that the Degree of Gestural Overlap parameter serves as a good indicator of relative markedness of English word-final obstruent clusters.