Abstract 摘要
The present study is a palatographic and linguographic investigation of the articulatory characteristics of the coronal obstruents [t ts s] in Cantonese. The main findings are as follows. (i) Data on linguopalatal contact show Cantonese stop [t] is an apico-laminal denti-postalveolar articulation, with the tip and blade of the tongue making simultaneous contact on the upper central incisors, alveolar ridge, and postalveolar region. The broad linguopalatal constriction in the sagittal plane may be considered as an articulatory gesture characteristic of Cantonese stop [t]. (ii) Both Cantonese fricative [s] and affricate [ts] are articulated with the blade of the tongue making contact on the alveolar ridge. The affricate [ts] has a close affinity in articulation with the fricative [s] rather than the stop [t]. (iii) Data on the width of lateral contact on each side of the palatal region during [t ts s] show that the coronal obstruents are palatalized before [i] and [y], and a larger degree of palatalization before [i] than [y] is observed. (iv) The post-consonantal high front vowels [i y] affect the width of lateral contact on each side of the palatal region during [t ts s], but not the length of central constriction on the palate in the sagittal plane. (v) There is no gender variation in degree of palatalization and length of central constriction on the palate in the sagittal plane during [t ts s]. And, (vi) the articulatory data obtained in the present study in general do not confirm the quality descriptions of the articulatory characteristics of the coronal obstruents in the past studies of Cantonese, in particular, the claims with respect to change of articulatory target region in different vowel environments.

本文是一项颚位与舌位的研究，分析广州话舌前阻塞音[t ts s]的发音性质。以下是主要的研究结果。(i)广州话舌前塞音[t]的舌颚接触面非常广泛，颚位包括上门齿、齿龈及齿 龈后，舌位则包括舌尖和舌叶。(ii)广州话塞擦音[ts]跟擦音[s]的发音性质相似，接触部位都是在舌叶与齿龈。(iii)广州话舌前阻塞音[t ts s]在前高元音[i y]前会颚化，颚化 程度在元音[i]前的比在元音[y]前的为大。(iv)元音环境只影响[t ts s]的颚化程度，并不影响[t ts s]的发音部位和舌颚在前后方向接触的长度。(v)发音人的性别对[t ts s]的 颚化程度和发音部位都没有影响。(vi)本研究的发音资料不支持过去的研究对广州话舌前阻塞音发音性质的描述，尤其是有关元音环境对发音部位改变的看法。

Keywords 关键词

Cantonese coronal obstruents 广州话舌前阻塞音 Place of articulation 发音部位 Articulatory target region 发音目标区 Constriction on the tongue 舌上收窄位置 Palatogram and linguogram 颚位图和舌位图 Linguopalatal contact pattern 舌颚接触模式