Vowels and diphthongs

Abstract

This study compares the acoustic and articulatory properties of the Romanian mid diphthong /ea/ to the hiatus sequence /e.a/, and the high diphthong /ja/ to the hiatus sequence /i.a/. Both acoustic and articulatory (EMA) data support the analysis of the mid diphthong as forming a complex nucleus, consistent with its phonotactic behavior. This diphthong exhibits the greatest temporal overlap between the two vowels and the largest coarticulation/blend between its vocalic targets. The hiatus sequence /i.a/, which spans two syllables, shows the least overlap and coarticulation. The high diphthong /ja/ is a tautosyllabic sequence, displaying an intermediate degree of overlap, more similar to /ea/ than to hiatus sequences in its timing properties.