earticle

영어

This study presents that Korean Initial Tensification should be considered from perceptual perspectives. To be more precise, the strengthening resulting from tensification facilitates the word recognition. Along this line, it is proposed that word-initial position as well as initial syllable is an eligible strong position, rectifying the stances held by Beckman (1998) and Barnes (2002). Basically, we claim that the left-edge tensification is a compromise between two contradictory demands: From the paradigmatic dimension, it happens at the price of neutralization of plain and tense consonants. Meanwhile, under the syntagmatic dimension, it contributes to enlarging the concerned acoustic modulation, that is, perceptual fluctuation between preceding consonants and the following vowels. A priority is given to the increase in the syntagmatic modulation at the expense of neutralization of paradigmatic dimension. On the other hand, the option for tensification rather than aspiration derives from an Optimality perspective. Considering the evidence of phonetic measurements of VOT and F0, it turns out that the discrepancy between Korean aspirated and plain consonants is greater than in the case of tense and plain consonants. Under the control of faithfulness constraints, the tense consonants are expected to emerge.