Contextual Variability of Third-Tone Sandhi in Taiwan Mandarin

This study investigates the phonetic property of Third-Tone Sandhi in Taiwan Mandarin and the effects of contextual variability. The goal of this study is to provide empirical evidence for the description of Tone 2 (T2) and Tone 3 (T3) in Taiwan Mandarin and further to account for the phonetic features of T2 and T3 in Third-Tone Sandhi Contexts. The results show that isolated T2 is different from isolated T3 in Taiwan Mandarin. Interestingly, the phonetic T2 (</T3/) derived from Third-Tone Sandhi Rule in Sandhi Context has more raising effect than the underlying T2 in the same Sandhi Context. The greater raising effect of the T3 (> T2) in Sandhi Context was supported by its longer vowel duration. Third-Tone Sandhi Rule turns T3T3 into T2T3, and anticipatory dissimilation enhances the raising effect on the Sandhi