„Atsimenu“: afrikata ar sprogstamojo ir pučiamojo priebalsio samplaika?
“Atsimenu” (I Remember): Affricate or Plosive and Fricative Consonant Cluster?

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine whether consonant clusters [t]+[s]/[tj]+[sj] used at the junction of Lithuanian morphemes and words are pronounced as affricates [t͡s]/[t͡sj] or as clusters of separate consonants. The sentences with affricates and clusters were read three times at different rate (usual and fast) by 10 native speakers (5 men and 5 women with higher education, aged 24–55). The duration of the affricates and the clusters was measured, and their structural models were compared. The duration of the affricates and the clusters analysed in the study is very similar. The frication of the clusters at the usual reading rate is a little (1.1 times) longer than the frication of the affricates. However, the duration of the frication at the fast reading is the same. While the duration of the closure of the affricates is longer at the fast reading, it is the same at the usual reading rate. There are three structural models of the affricates and clusters: a) closure and frication (62% of the researched clusters and 56% of the affricates), b) continuous or intensifying frication (17% clusters and 26% affricates), c) closure, slight plosion and frication (21% clusters and 18% affricates). The results of this research indicate that the consonant clusters [t]+[s]/[tj]+[sj] at the junction of the morphemes and clitics and words are pronounced as the affricates, and therefore are accordingly marked in transcribed texts.

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