10.08.2023Poster presentation by Catalina Torres "Stop voicing in Drehu: Effects of place of articulation, speaker sex, and language attitudes" at ICPhS 2023

Catalina Torres and Jeremy Steffman (The University of Edinburgh) present: "Stop voicing in Drehu: Effects of place of articulation, speaker sex, and language attitudes" at the International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS)https://www.icphs2023.org/

This study investigates a potential ongoing sound change in the language Drehu, spoken by a small community in the South Pacific. Data from teenage female and male speakers was analysed in relation to voice onset time (VOT), percent voicing, self reported language proficiency and attitudes. We find that female and male speakers’ increased use of VOT and devoicing are differently correlated to their language attitudes. In particular, we find that in female speakers a better knowledge of Drehu is linked with increased VOT.