(Hidden) Variability in Vowel Phonotactic Systems (C07)

• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 317633480

Project C07 investigates the interplay of (hidden) phonetic variability and phonotactics. We focus on two key areas: (1) vowel harmony, specifically the acquisition and processing puzzle presented by vowels with very similar acoustics but distinct phonological identities in Niger-Kongo languages, and (2) metaphony systems, exploring the hypothesis that variability in how vowels are produced and perceived shape key properties of these systems. Corpus analyses and perception/production experiments with infants and adults will contribute to our understanding of the links between phonetic properties, phonological structure and change.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1287: Limits of Variability in Language: Cognitive, Computational, and Grammatical Aspects
• Applicant Institution: Universität Potsdam
• Project Heads: Professorin Natalie Boll-Avetisyan, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Adamantios Gafos