Monolingual vs codeswitching modes: Voice onset time in Lebanese Arabic and English

Abstract

The production of stops in Lebanese Arabic and English was examined in monolingual mode and codeswitching mode. Voice onset time (VOT) was measured in word-initial voiced and voiceless stops for nine bilingual speakers and 12 monolingual Arabic speakers. Mixed model linear regressions found no significant difference in VOT between conditions (monolingual versus codeswitching), between languages (Arabic versus English), or between speaker groups (bilingual versus monolingual). The only significant predictor of VOT was voicing of the stops. These results show voicing during the closure for voiced stops and some aspiration for voiceless stops, with the same patterns found for bilingual speakers (in both languages) and monolingual speakers.