Cinefluorographic Study of Selected Allophones of English /I/

Abstract The purpose of this cinefluorographic study of a number of allophonic variations of English /l/ was to describe the articulatory characteristics of these variations and to assess factors which may be responsible for the variations. Three subjects produced a speech sample containing English words and phrases while the high speed cinefluorographic films were made. The observed variability centered around two allophone groups, the prevocalic and the post-vocalic, having different articulatory characteristics. The pre-vocalic productions showed a more anterior lingual position and faster speed of movement than was observed for the post-vocalic group. Consequently, the pre-vocalic allophones showed no undershoot of the anterior lingual contact, while the post-vocalics did show undershoot of this position. The syllabic /l/ productions displayed lingual configurations like the post-vocalic group and movement characteristics like those shown when /l/ is articulated in a pre-vocalic cluster. Variation within the three major allophone groups can be explained within current concepts of coarticulation and articulatory undershoot.