ABSTRACT
The Acoustic Phonetics of Complex Onset and Coda Clusters in L2 English - discusses the pronunciation of 800 syllable onsets and codas. The investigation centers on how the non-native speakers of the seven language groups pronounce complex onsets and codas in light of the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP), the Minimal Sonority Distance Parameter (MSDP), and the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP), three widespread constraints that regulate syllable phonotactics in many world languages. Of note is the fact that the seven languages in question adhere faithfully to these three quasi-universal constraints, whereas English does not. The findings indicate that many L2-speakers tend to resyllabify complex English onsets and codas by simplifying them through deletion or through vowel epenthesis. The latter occurs frequently among Somali and Spanish speakers when an onset cluster begins with /s/. Complex codas on the other hand are simplified through deletion of one of the constitutive consonants. Another common phonological strategy used by L2 speakers is the devoicing of codas. All 67 non-native speakers use it. However, it occurs more conspicuously in Slavic-accented English because Serbian and Croatian have phonological rules prohibiting voiced segments in codas. As a result, Slavic speakers’ pronunciation of <bags> ([bægz]) sounds like [bæks]. Coda devoicing can cause poor or mediocre intelligibility.
