Lexical frequency as a scalar variable in explaining variation

Bibliographic Data

ID20259035
AuthorsRichard J File-Muriel (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, corresponding author)
Year2010
Volume55
Issue1
Pages1-25
Publication date2010-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-4131 • E-ISSN: 1710-1115
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008413100001353
OpenAlexW4235649938
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited18

This study examines the relationship between lexical frequency and s -lenition in Barranquillero Spanish, looking at lexical frequency as a scalar variable. A quantitative analysis of /s/ in words of different lexical frequencies, in which productions from a reading task were submitted to auditory acoustical analysis, reveals that the single most important factor in s-lenition is lexical frequency. Speakers tend towards a full articulation of /s/ in low-frequency words, while weakening it in high-frequency words. This study addresses three questions: Do subtle differences in lexical frequency influence how sounds are produced synchronically? What are the advantages of considering lexical frequency in scalar terms as opposed to a categorical variable (high vs. low-frequency)? What is the relationship between lexical frequency and other linguistic factors

Categorical variable · Lexical density · Lexical item · Linguistics · Physics · Reading (process) · Scalar (mathematics) · Sentence · Statistics · Variable (mathematics) · Variation (astronomy) · Word lists by frequency · Linguistic Studies and Language Acquisition · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Mathematics · Philosophy · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology

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