Acoustics of Emphatics and Uvulars in Bedouin Hijazi Arabic

Abstract

The current study examines the effects of emphatics /ðˤ sˤ tˤ/ and uvulars /ʁ χ/ on following vowels in Bedouin Hijazi Arabic. The main goal is to observe F1 and F2 of vowels /i æ u/ next to the aforementioned sounds. The outcome of this study shows that F1 and F2 values next to emphatics and uvulars are reliable acoustic correlates. Emphatics and uvulars next to vowels increase F1 values, a pattern not noticeable in vowels next to plain sounds /ð s t/. Both groups also show lower F2 values compared to plain coronals. The size of F2 decrease, however, is lower in vowels following emphatics than vowels following uvulars. Differences in F2 values between these sound groups suggest differences in their articulatory mechanisms.