Vowel-to-Vowel coarticulation effects in Greek

Vowel-to-Vowel (ν-to-ν) coarticulatory effects in Vowel-Consonant-Vowel sequences (VCV) in Greek are examined using articulatory data. The data were recorded with the technique of electropalatography (Reading EPG system) which records lingual contact with the hard palate in continuous speech. The speech material consisted of real words embedded in short sentences containing selected VCV sequences (ν =i,a and C=p,s,t). Two stress conditions were examined: stress of V1 and V2, e.g. 'papa and pa'pa. The aim of the study was twofold: (i) to examine ν-to-ν coarticulatory behaνiour over consonants requiring different degree of lingual involvement in their production; (ii) to investigate the relationship between stress and coarticulatory effects. For the comparison of articulatory patterns and coarticulatory tendencies two locational dimensions of the tongue were identified using specific indices: degree of tongue forwardness (anteriority index) and degree of tongue raising (centrality index)