Acoustic analysis of nasal and lateral consonants: The merger in Eastern Min

The contrast between word-initial [n] and [l] is disappearing in many Chinese languages, including Eastern Min. Before investigating the status of the merger, we need to identify the acoustic cues that distinguish [n] from [l]. In English and Mandarin, languages with the [n] and [l] contrast, we examined: (1) Duration: consonant duration and consonant-vowel transition duration; (2) Formant frequencies: F1, F2 and F3 at the midpoint of the consonant; (3) Formant intensities: I1, I2, and I3 at the midpoint of the consonant; and (4) Relative amplitude (the amplitude difference between the consonant and the following vowel). Preliminary results show that [n] is significantly longer than [l] in Mandarin and English but not in Eastern Min. F2 of [n] is higher than F2 of [l] in English and Mandarin, whereas the direction is reversed in Eastern Min. Finally, the difference in relative amplitude between [n] and [l] is greater in English and Mandarin than in Eastern Min. Together, these results suggest a merger in progress in Eastern Min . Moreover, older Eastern Min speakers showed the merger to a greater degree than younger speakers, presumably because the older speakers use Mandarin less frequently.