Yorkshire Assimilation: An Experimental Investigation of Gradient Phonological Alternation

Abstract

This thesis investigates Yorkshire Assimilation (YA) in relation to both the phonology-phonetics and the categoricality-gradience distinction. Importantly, it is not assumed that the distinction between phonology and phonetics is based on that between categoricality and gradience. Firstly, regarding the phonology-phonetics distinction, it is argued on articulatory phonetic grounds that if YA is cued by segmental duration, this must be the result of a phonological process. Secondly, regarding the categoricality-gradience distinction, it is argued that if YA involves incomplete neutralisation of a voicing cue, this would point towards a gradient process. A production experiment was conducted which tested if these assumptions were borne out. It compared the mean vowel-consonant duration ratio (V/C ratio) of assimilated items with that of unassimilated voiced and voiceless items. The results showed that, for the majority of the participants, the mean V/C ratio of assimilation items was significantly different from that of the voiced and the voiceless items. This means (1) that, as most speakers showed assimilation of a durational cue, YA must be phonological, and (2) that, as this assimilation was incomplete, YA must also be gradient.