Spectral Features of Wolaytta Ejectives

Bibliographic Data

ID5900788
AuthorsFirew Elias (0000-0002-6551-5991, Addis Ababa University), Derib Ado (0000-0001-7125-9771, Addis Ababa University), Feda Negesse (0000-0002-0515-4215, Addis Ababa University)
Year2025
Volume10
Issue10
Pages250
Publication date2025-09-29
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguages (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2226-471X • E-ISSN: 2226-471X
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/languages10100250
OpenAlexW4414610724
LanguageEN
References cited15

This study analyzes the spectral properties of word-initial and intervocalic ejectives in Wolaytta, an Omotic language of southern Ethiopia. Using tokens embedded in three vowel contexts, we examined mean burst intensity, spectral moments, and vowel perturbation following ejection. Results show that ejectives adjacent to high front vowels were produced with greater intensity, supporting the hypothesis that increased oral cavity tenseness correlates with acoustic energy. Centroid and standard deviation differentiate place of articulation, while skewness and kurtosis distinguish singleton from geminate ejectives. Post-ejective vowel pitch and spectral tilt varied systematically with the ejectives' place of articulation, indicating creaky phonation induced by ejection. Overall, the findings enhance our understanding of factors impacting acoustic features of ejectives

Advanced Combinatorial Mathematics · Algebraic structures and combinatorial models · semigroups and automata theory

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