Last updated 26 Nov 07
Abstract
This study examines the effects of social class and age on the diphthongization of /a/ and /o/ in Brazilian Portuguese in the pre-"s/z" environment and their potential merger with /ai/ and /oi/, respectively. With the intent of providing more objective criteria for measuring diphthongization, a new method for acoustically measuring diphthongs is proposed. The results suggest that many speakers (especially older speakers) have a near merger of /a/ and /ai/ and of /o/ and /oi/ in this environment. The youngest speakers (those under 25), however, have these vowels completely merged, which may indicate a change in progress.
© 2007 Michael Colley
Last updated 26 Nov 07