Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

Raksit T. Lau

University of California, Berkeley [email protected]

29th Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (Tokyo, Japan)

May 28, 2019

...... 1 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Acknowledgements

I would like to respectfully acknowledge that I study on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Chochenyo Ohlone people

...... 2 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Acknowledgements

Sidawun Thongwilai Kraisorn Sompong Chaiyapha Intanai Hardkadee Tonprathum (Kuy) (Kuy) (Thro) (So Thavung)

...... 3 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a region well defined geographically and politically • On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and less arable region of Thailand • In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here:

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

• On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and less arable region of Thailand • In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here:

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a region well defined geographically and politically

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

• In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here:

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a region well defined geographically and politically • On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and less arable region of Thailand

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

• We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here:

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand , Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a region well defined geographically and politically • On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and Kuy less arable region of Thailand • In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here: Kuy (Katuic)

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand , So Thavung (Vietic)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a Thro region well defined geographically and politically • On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and Kuy less arable region of Thailand • In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here: Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic)

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References

• Isan (Northeastern Thailand) is a Thro region well defined geographically So Thavung and politically • On the Khorat Plateau, a drier and Kuy less arable region of Thailand • In close contact culturally and linguistically with Laos; southern part with Cambodia • We will be looking at 3 Austroasiatic languages spoken here: Kuy (Katuic), Thro (Katuic), So Thavung (Vietic)

...... 4 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Most people above 20 have some command • Children primarily use Thai in the home; many in the older generation self-report using Thai with their grandchildren

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy (Katuic)

• Many speakers multilingual (some older speakers can speak Kuy, Lao, Thai, and Northern Khmer)

Tambon Tum, Sisaket

...... 5 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Children primarily use Thai in the home; many in the older generation self-report using Thai with their grandchildren

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy (Katuic)

• Many speakers multilingual (some older speakers can speak Kuy, Lao, Thai, and Northern Khmer) • Most people above 20 have some command

Tambon Tum, Sisaket

...... 5 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy (Katuic)

• Many speakers multilingual (some older speakers can speak Kuy, Lao, Thai, and Northern Khmer) • Most people above 20 have some command • Children primarily use Thai in the Tambon Tum, home; many in the older generation Sisaket self-report using Thai with their grandchildren

...... 5 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Many young people leave the village for college or work • Few young speakers report knowing Khmer, some even report not being able to speak Lao; Kuy still regularly heard

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Language Vitality and Attrition

• Parents say teachers would say their children were โง่เหมือนควาย [ŋô: mɨə̌n kʰwa:j] ‘dumb as a water buffalo’ if they responded to teachers in Kuy

...... 6 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Few young speakers report knowing Khmer, some even report not being able to speak Lao; Kuy still regularly heard

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Language Vitality and Attrition

...... 6 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Language Vitality and Attrition

• Parents say teachers would say their children were โง่เหมือนควาย [ŋô: mɨə̌n kʰwa:j] ‘dumb as a water buffalo’ if they responded to teachers in Kuy • Many young people leave the village for college or work • Few young speakers report knowing Khmer, some even report not being able to speak Lao; Kuy still regularly heard

...... 6 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Live alongside various Tai languages (Lao, Phuthai, Nyo) • Spoken in city of Kusumal and surrounding villages

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro (Katuic)

Kusumal District, Sakon Nakhon

...... 7 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Spoken in city of Kusumal and surrounding villages

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro (Katuic)

• Live alongside various Tai languages (Lao, Phuthai, Nyo)

Kusumal District, Sakon Nakhon

...... 7 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro (Katuic)

• Live alongside various Tai languages (Lao, Phuthai, Nyo) • Spoken in city of Kusumal and surrounding villages Kusumal District, Sakon Nakhon

...... 7 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Kraisorn Hardkadee teaches students how to write and teachers who speak Thro mix it with Thai with the children • Gradually being lost elsewhere, especially in city of Kusumal

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Language Vitality and Attrition

• Most robustly spoken in the village of Kudsakoy, including by children at elementary school with one another

...... 8 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Gradually being lost elsewhere, especially in city of Kusumal

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Language Vitality and Attrition

• Most robustly spoken in the village of Kudsakoy, including by children at elementary school with one another • Kraisorn Hardkadee teaches students how to write and teachers who speak Thro mix it with Thai with the children

...... 8 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Language Vitality and Attrition

• Gradually being lost elsewhere, especially. in. . city. . . . of. . Kusumal...... 8 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Speaking their language often led to being severely punished or executed due to mistrust

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung (Vietic)

• During communist scare of 1965–1980, both communists and the Thai military were mistrustful of the So Thavung

Songdao District, Sakon Nakhon

...... 9 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung (Vietic)

• During communist scare of 1965–1980, both communists and the Thai military were mistrustful of the So Thavung • Speaking their language often led

Songdao District, to being severely punished or Sakon Nakhon executed due to mistrust

...... 9 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Much exogamy, such that commonly heard languages in the villages are Tai languages such as Lao, Nyo, and Kaloe • Nyo words mixed in for younger speakers (Premsrirat, 1996) • Youngest speakers in their 40s—self-report speaking “impurely”, but have more pride in speaking than older speakers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Language Vitality and Attrition

• Only 3 historically isolated villages speak So Thavung

...... 10 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Nyo words mixed in for younger speakers (Premsrirat, 1996) • Youngest speakers in their 40s—self-report speaking “impurely”, but have more pride in speaking than older speakers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Language Vitality and Attrition

• Only 3 historically isolated villages speak So Thavung • Much exogamy, such that commonly heard languages in the villages are Tai languages such as Lao, Nyo, and Kaloe

...... 10 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Youngest speakers in their 40s—self-report speaking “impurely”, but have more pride in speaking than older speakers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Language Vitality and Attrition

...... 10 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Language Vitality and Attrition

• Only 3 historically isolated villages speak So Thavung • Much exogamy, such that commonly heard languages in the villages are Tai languages such as Lao, Nyo, and Kaloe • Nyo words mixed in for younger speakers (Premsrirat, 1996) • Youngest speakers in their 40s—self-report speaking “impurely”, but have more pride in speaking than older speakers ...... 10 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Thro (Katuic; Amphoe Kusumal, Sakon Nakhon) • Still spoken by schoolchildren in some pockets • Less used in cities, but generally passed on • Heard regularly in villages • So Thavung (Vietic; Tambon Pathumwapi, Sakon Nakhon) • Spoken by those 40 and up • No longer being passed on, stigma in usage • Rarely heard in villages, people primarily use Tai languages

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Language Situations

• Kuy (Katuic; Tambon Tum, Sisaket) • Spoken primarily by those 20 and up • No longer being passed on • Still heard regularly in villages

...... 11 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • So Thavung (Vietic; Tambon Pathumwapi, Sakon Nakhon) • Spoken by those 40 and up • No longer being passed on, stigma in usage • Rarely heard in villages, people primarily use Tai languages

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Language Situations

...... 11 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Language Situations

• Kuy (Katuic; Tambon Tum, Sisaket) • Spoken primarily by those 20 and up • No longer being passed on • Still heard regularly in villages • Thro (Katuic; Amphoe Kusumal, Sakon Nakhon) • Still spoken by schoolchildren in some pockets • Less used in cities, but generally passed on • Heard regularly in villages • So Thavung (Vietic; Tambon Pathumwapi, Sakon Nakhon) • Spoken by those 40 and up • No longer being passed on, stigma in usage • Rarely heard in villages, people primarily use Tai languages

...... 11 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Creaky voice contrast • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

• Longer open quotient (proportion of glottal cycle for which glottis is open) • Percept of more air coming out • Can also lower f0 or F1 • So Thavung also has (neither will be explored here)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

• All 3 languages have breathy voice contrasting with modal voice

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Creaky voice contrast • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

• Percept of more air coming out • Can also lower f0 or F1 • So Thavung also has (neither will be explored here)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

• All 3 languages have breathy voice contrasting with modal voice • Longer open quotient (proportion of glottal cycle for which glottis is open)

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Creaky voice contrast • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

• Can also lower f0 or F1 • So Thavung also has (neither will be explored here)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

• All 3 languages have breathy voice contrasting with modal voice • Longer open quotient (proportion of glottal cycle for which glottis is open) • Percept of more air coming out

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Creaky voice contrast • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

• So Thavung also has (neither will be explored here)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Creaky voice contrast • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

• All 3 languages have breathy voice contrasting with modal voice • Longer open quotient (proportion of glottal cycle for which glottis is open) • Percept of more air coming out • Can also lower f0 or F1 • So Thavung also has (neither will be explored here)

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • 3 tonal patterns for modal voice

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Voice Quality difference

...... 12 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Breathiness contrast in Kuy can still be heard, but less clear. Possibly a pitch distinction • lu: ‘to howl’ vs. lu͈: ‘thigh’ • Breathiness contrast in So Thavung sounds like a vowel quality difference, at least for mid-vowels • dɔ: ‘monkey’ vs. dɔ͈: ‘many’ • tɛh ‘to give birth’ vs. tɛh͈ ‘leech’

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Preservation and Restructuring of Voice Quality

• Breathiness contrast in Thro is quite clear • palih ‘to twist’ vs. palih͈ ‘to flip’

...... 13 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Breathiness contrast in So Thavung sounds like a vowel quality difference, at least for mid-vowels • dɔ: ‘monkey’ vs. dɔ͈: ‘many’ • tɛh ‘to give birth’ vs. tɛh͈ ‘leech’

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Preservation and Restructuring of Voice Quality

...... 13 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Preservation and Restructuring of Voice Quality

• Breathiness contrast in Thro is quite clear • palih ‘to twist’ vs. palih͈ ‘to flip’ • Breathiness contrast in Kuy can still be heard, but less clear. Possibly a pitch distinction • lu: ‘to howl’ vs. lu͈: ‘thigh’ • Breathiness contrast in So Thavung sounds like a vowel quality difference, at least for mid-vowels • dɔ: ‘monkey’ vs. dɔ͈: ‘many’ • tɛh ‘to give birth’ vs. tɛh͈ ‘leech’

...... 13 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Lowered f0 can lead to a low tone • Lowered F1 can lead to vowel raising or diphthongization (Wayland and Jongman, 2002) • These changes may be pressured further by other mergers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Breathiness and change

• Voice quality distinctions include a bundle of factors, including altered f0 and F1 (Kirby and Brunelle, 2017)

...... 14 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Lowered F1 can lead to vowel raising or diphthongization (Wayland and Jongman, 2002) • These changes may be pressured further by other mergers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Breathiness and change

• Voice quality distinctions include a bundle of factors, including altered f0 and F1 (Kirby and Brunelle, 2017) • Lowered f0 can lead to a low tone

...... 14 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • These changes may be pressured further by other mergers

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Breathiness and change

• Voice quality distinctions include a bundle of factors, including altered f0 and F1 (Kirby and Brunelle, 2017) • Lowered f0 can lead to a low tone • Lowered F1 can lead to vowel raising or diphthongization (Wayland and Jongman, 2002)

...... 14 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Breathiness and change

...... 14 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Merger between final alveolars /t n/ and palatals /c ɲ/: kû:n ‘male’, kʰɔ̂:t ‘to roll up’ (cf. ku:ɲ, kʰɔ:c in Lao Thavung)

• Kuy • Loss of prenasalization: ncʰu:n ∼ cʰu:n ‘to hide’ • Merger between final /l/ and /r/: pi:r ∼ pi:l ‘flower’ • Thro • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: ckal ∼ ckan ‘to crow’ • Merger between final /n/ and /ɲ/: pɛɲ ∼ pɛn ‘to shoot’ • So Thavung (completed changes from Premsrirat (1996)) • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: kahâ:n ‘tiger’ (cf. kaha:l in Lao Thavung)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Cluster of mergers • Phonological systems approaching Thai/Lao

...... 15 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Merger between final alveolars /t n/ and palatals /c ɲ/: kû:n ‘male’, kʰɔ̂:t ‘to roll up’ (cf. ku:ɲ, kʰɔ:c in Lao Thavung)

• Thro • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: ckal ∼ ckan ‘to crow’ • Merger between final /n/ and /ɲ/: pɛɲ ∼ pɛn ‘to shoot’ • So Thavung (completed changes from Premsrirat (1996)) • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: kahâ:n ‘tiger’ (cf. kaha:l in Lao Thavung)

• So Thavung (completed changes from Premsrirat (1996)) • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: kahâ:n ‘tiger’ (cf. kaha:l in Lao Thavung)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Cluster of mergers • Phonological systems approaching Thai/Lao • Kuy • Loss of prenasalization: ncʰu:n ∼ cʰu:n ‘to hide’ • Merger between final /l/ and /r/: pi:r ∼ pi:l ‘flower’ • Thro • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: ckal ∼ ckan ‘to crow’ • Merger between final /n/ and /ɲ/: pɛɲ ∼ pɛn ‘to shoot’

...... 15 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Cluster of mergers • Phonological systems approaching Thai/Lao • Kuy • Loss of prenasalization: ncʰu:n ∼ cʰu:n ‘to hide’ • Merger between final /l/ and /r/: pi:r ∼ pi:l ‘flower’ • Thro • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: ckal ∼ ckan ‘to crow’ • Merger between final /n/ and /ɲ/: pɛɲ ∼ pɛn ‘to shoot’ • So Thavung (completed changes from Premsrirat (1996)) • Merger between final /l/ and /n/: kahâ:n ‘tiger’ (cf. kaha:l in Lao Thavung) • Merger between final alveolars /t n/ and palatals /c ɲ/: kû:n ‘male’, kʰɔ̂:t ‘to roll up’ (cf. ku:ɲ, kʰɔ:c in Lao Thavung) ...... 15 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Greatly improved transportation system throughout country • Increased media access • More mobility for education and jobs • More schoolteachers coming in from other provinces • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

• Thailand has rapidly modernized and centralized in the past few decades

...... 16 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Increased media access • More mobility for education and jobs • More schoolteachers coming in from other provinces • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

• Thailand has rapidly modernized and centralized in the past few decades • Greatly improved transportation system throughout country

...... 16 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • More mobility for education and jobs • More schoolteachers coming in from other provinces • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

• Thailand has rapidly modernized and centralized in the past few decades • Greatly improved transportation system throughout country • Increased media access

...... 16 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • More schoolteachers coming in from other provinces • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

...... 16 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

...... 16 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Social motivations for change

• Thailand has rapidly modernized and centralized in the past few decades • Greatly improved transportation system throughout country • Increased media access • More mobility for education and jobs • More schoolteachers coming in from other provinces • Younger speakers are increasingly dominant in Thai (or Lao), such that there may be imposition (Winford, 2005) of the Thai (or Lao) phonological system on the local language within a speaker

• As voice quality is not a phonemic distinction in any Tai language (the dominant languages, both nationwide and also at the local level), the robustness of the breathiness distinction will be linked to the vitality of the language

...... 17 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Elicitation of minimal pairs in wordlists (less controlled)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Audio recording

• Recordings for Thro and So Thavung taken with C544-L headset microphone, mostly in homes or outdoor settings

...... 18 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Audio recording

• Recordings for Thro and So Thavung taken with C544-L headset microphone, mostly in homes or outdoor settings • Elicitation of minimal pairs in wordlists (less controlled) ...... 18 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Carried out task on tablet screen in temple computer room or guest room • More controlled than Thro and So Thavung elicitation

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Production study

• Kuy speakers asked to embed target words in carrier sentences, recorded on C544-L headset microphone

...... 19 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • More controlled than Thro and So Thavung elicitation

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Production study

• Kuy speakers asked to embed target words in carrier sentences, recorded on C544-L headset microphone • Carried out task on tablet screen in temple computer room or guest room

...... 19 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Production study

• Kuy speakers asked to embed target words in carrier sentences, recorded on C544-L headset microphone • Carried out task on tablet screen in temple computer room or guest room • More controlled than Thro and So Thavung elicitation

...... 19 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-A2* (proxy for open quotient) • H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) • CPP (measure of aperiodic noise in spectrum)

• Each measure averaged at each of 20 chunks across the vowel, with SDs calculated by speaker • f0 measured in semitones as proxy for pitch • F1 measured for vowel quality differences • Spectral measures of breathiness (corrected for resonances (Hanson, 1995; Iseli et al., 2007))

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

• Files aligned with Montreal Forced Aligner (McAuliffe et al., 2017), measurements taken with VoiceSauce (Shue et al., 2011)

...... 20 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-A2* (proxy for open quotient) • H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) • CPP (measure of aperiodic noise in spectrum)

• f0 measured in semitones as proxy for pitch • F1 measured for vowel quality differences • Spectral measures of breathiness (corrected for resonances (Hanson, 1995; Iseli et al., 2007))

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

• F1 measured for vowel quality differences • Spectral measures of breathiness (corrected for resonances (Hanson, 1995; Iseli et al., 2007))

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

• Spectral measures of breathiness (corrected for resonances (Hanson, 1995; Iseli et al., 2007))

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

• Files aligned with Montreal Forced Aligner (McAuliffe et al., 2017), measurements taken with VoiceSauce (Shue et al., 2011) • Each measure averaged at each of 20 chunks across the vowel, with SDs calculated by speaker • f0 measured in semitones as proxy for pitch • F1 measured for vowel quality differences • Spectral measures of breathiness (corrected for resonances (Hanson, 1995; Iseli et al., 2007))

...... 20 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) • CPP (measure of aperiodic noise in spectrum)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

...... 20 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • CPP (measure of aperiodic noise in spectrum)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

...... 20 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Measures

...... 21 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Modal (top) vs. Breathy (bottom) Spectra

H1-H2

H1-A3

...... 21 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • 20s for Kuy (1 M, 1 F) and Thro (2 F) • 40s for So Thavung (2 M)

• 2 young speakers for each language

• 2 old speakers for each language • Kuy: 60s (1 M, 1 F) • Thro: 1 M in 50s, 1 F in 60s • So Thavung: 1 M in 60s, 1 F in 80s

• Analyzed for this work in progress:

• Modal-breathy vowels in minimal pairs measured • Kuy: 39 words; 151 modal, 153 breathy • Thro: 42 words; 160 modal, 171 breathy • So Thavung: 14 words; 167 modal, 194 breathy

...... 22 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • 20s for Kuy (1 M, 1 F) and Thro (2 F) • 40s for So Thavung (2 M)

• 2 young speakers for each language

• 2 old speakers for each language • Kuy: 60s (1 M, 1 F) • Thro: 1 M in 50s, 1 F in 60s • So Thavung: 1 M in 60s, 1 F in 80s • Modal-breathy vowels in minimal pairs measured • Kuy: 39 words; 151 modal, 153 breathy • Thro: 42 words; 160 modal, 171 breathy • So Thavung: 14 words; 167 modal, 194 breathy

...... 22 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • 2 old speakers for each language • Kuy: 60s (1 M, 1 F) • Thro: 1 M in 50s, 1 F in 60s • So Thavung: 1 M in 60s, 1 F in 80s • Modal-breathy vowels in minimal pairs measured • Kuy: 39 words; 151 modal, 153 breathy • Thro: 42 words; 160 modal, 171 breathy • So Thavung: 14 words; 167 modal, 194 breathy

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Participants • Recorded all together: • 75 speakers for Kuy • 17 speakers for Thro • 9 speakers for So Thavung • Analyzed for this work in progress: • 2 young speakers for each language • 20s for Kuy (1 M, 1 F) and Thro (2 F) • 40s for So Thavung (2 M)

...... 22 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Modal-breathy vowels in minimal pairs measured • Kuy: 39 words; 151 modal, 153 breathy • Thro: 42 words; 160 modal, 171 breathy • So Thavung: 14 words; 167 modal, 194 breathy

...... 22 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Participants • Recorded all together: • 75 speakers for Kuy • 17 speakers for Thro • 9 speakers for So Thavung • Analyzed for this work in progress: • 2 young speakers for each language • 20s for Kuy (1 M, 1 F) and Thro (2 F) • 40s for So Thavung (2 M) • 2 old speakers for each language • Kuy: 60s (1 M, 1 F) • Thro: 1 M in 50s, 1 F in 60s • So Thavung: 1 M in 60s, 1 F in 80s • Modal-breathy vowels in minimal pairs measured • Kuy: 39 words; 151 modal, 153 breathy • Thro: 42 words; 160 modal, 171 breathy • So Thavung: 14 words; 167 modal, 194. breathy...... 22 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Higher H1*-H2* (open quotient) = more breathy • Higher H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) = more breathy • Lower CPP (aperiodic noise in signal) = more breathy

• The measures of breathiness

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Hypotheses

• Loss of breathy contrast will be proportional to language vitality (Thro < Kuy < So Thavung)

...... 23 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Higher H1*-H2* (open quotient) = more breathy • Higher H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) = more breathy • Lower CPP (aperiodic noise in signal) = more breathy

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Hypotheses

• Loss of breathy contrast will be proportional to language vitality (Thro < Kuy < So Thavung) • The measures of breathiness

...... 23 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Higher H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) = more breathy • Lower CPP (aperiodic noise in signal) = more breathy

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Hypotheses

• Loss of breathy contrast will be proportional to language vitality (Thro < Kuy < So Thavung) • The measures of breathiness • Higher H1*-H2* (open quotient) = more breathy

...... 23 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Lower CPP (aperiodic noise in signal) = more breathy

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Hypotheses

• Loss of breathy contrast will be proportional to language vitality (Thro < Kuy < So Thavung) • The measures of breathiness • Higher H1*-H2* (open quotient) = more breathy • Higher H1*-A3* (spectral tilt) = more breathy

...... 23 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Summary of Hypotheses

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 51, m 70, f 20 20 Mean H1*−H2* 15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 24 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References H1*-A3*: Thro 20, f 25, f 40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 51, m 70, f 40 40 Mean H1*−A3*

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 25 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References CPP: Thro 20, f 25, f

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

10 10 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 51, m 70, f

Mean CPP 30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

10 10 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 26 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References f0: Thro 20, f 25, f

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 51, m 70, f

30 30 Mean f0 (Semitone)

20 20

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 27 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-H2* (open quotient) seems robust for the 25 F and 51 M speakers and potentially for the first part for the 20 F speaker • H1*-A3* is consistently higher for all speakers, but the distributions overlap a lot for the 20 F speaker • CPP is consistently lower for all speakers except 51 M, who doesn’t seem to reliably express this cue • f0 is potentially a cue for the 70 F speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Summary

• Breathiness is cued by at least one acoustic correlate of breathiness for all speakers

...... 28 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-A3* is consistently higher for all speakers, but the distributions overlap a lot for the 20 F speaker • CPP is consistently lower for all speakers except 51 M, who doesn’t seem to reliably express this cue • f0 is potentially a cue for the 70 F speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Summary

...... 28 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • CPP is consistently lower for all speakers except 51 M, who doesn’t seem to reliably express this cue • f0 is potentially a cue for the 70 F speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Summary

...... 28 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • f0 is potentially a cue for the 70 F speaker

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Summary

• Breathiness is cued by at least one acoustic correlate of breathiness for all speakers • H1*-H2* (open quotient) seems robust for the 25 F and 51 M speakers and potentially for the first part for the 20 F speaker • H1*-A3* is consistently higher for all speakers, but the distributions overlap a lot for the 20 F speaker • CPP is consistently lower for all speakers except 51 M, who doesn’t seem to reliably express this cue

...... 28 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Thro Summary

10 10

0 0

−10 −10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 62, f 66, m 20 20 Mean H1*−H2* 10 10

0 0

−10 −10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 29 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References H1*-A3*: Kuy 22, f 27, m 40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 62, f 66, m 40 40

Mean H1*−A3* 30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 30 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References CPP: Kuy 22, f 27, m 35 35

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 62, f 66, m 35 35 Mean CPP

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 31 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References f0: Kuy 22, f 27, m 30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 62, f 66, m 30 30

25 25 Mean f0 (Semitone)

20 20

15 15

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 32 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • H1*-A3* seems to be a fairly strong cue for voice quality in Kuy, particularly in female participants • CPP does not seem to be a cue for anyone • f0 seems to be consistently lower for breathy vowels for the younger speakers and also shows much less variation

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Summary

• H1*-H2* is a robust cue for the young male speaker and potentially the older male speaker (although he has much variation)

...... 33 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • CPP does not seem to be a cue for anyone • f0 seems to be consistently lower for breathy vowels for the younger speakers and also shows much less variation

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Summary

...... 33 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • f0 seems to be consistently lower for breathy vowels for the younger speakers and also shows much less variation

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Summary

• H1*-H2* is a robust cue for the young male speaker and potentially the older male speaker (although he has much variation) • H1*-A3* seems to be a fairly strong cue for voice quality in Kuy, particularly in female participants • CPP does not seem to be a cue for anyone

...... 33 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Kuy Summary

20 20

10 10

0 0

−10 −10 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 66, m 86, f

20 20 Mean H1*−H2*

10 10

0 0

−10 −10 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 34 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References H1*-A3*: So Thavung 45, m 49, m 40 40

20 20

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 66, m 86, f 40 40 Mean H1*−A3*

20 20

0 0

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 35 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References CPP: So Thavung 45, m 49, m

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 66, m 86, f

Mean CPP 30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 36 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References f0: So Thavung 45, m 49, m

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 66, m 86, f

Mean f0 (Semitone) 30 30

20 20

10 10

0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 Timepoint

Voice Quality breathy modal ...... 37 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • However, spectral tilt (H1*-A3*) may be a cue for the older female speaker • The other differences that exist are in the opposite expected direction

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Summary

• Neither acoustic correlates of breathiness nor f0 are very reliable cues for breathiness

...... 38 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • The other differences that exist are in the opposite expected direction

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Summary

• Neither acoustic correlates of breathiness nor f0 are very reliable cues for breathiness • However, spectral tilt (H1*-A3*) may be a cue for the older female speaker

...... 38 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References So Thavung Summary

• Neither acoustic correlates of breathiness nor f0 are very reliable cues for breathiness • However, spectral tilt (H1*-A3*) may be a cue for the older female speaker • The other differences that exist are in the opposite expected direction

...... 38 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Thro /ɛ, ɑ/ : n = 77, t(66.83) = 0.09, p = 0.93 • Kuy /ɛ:, e:, o:/ : n = 80, t(77.37) = 2.62, p = 0.011 (but not significant if separate out front from back vowels)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Vowel Spaces: Thro (left) vs. Kuy (right)

F2 F2 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 200 200

... 300 ì ì: ù: ì: i: 400 i: u: 400 i y u: è: e: ù: ò: 500 o: 600 È: E: E 600 È F1 F1 À A 700 800 àa 800

à 900 1000 a

1000

1200 1100 • No clear height differences in mid-front vowels for either language, but difference for Kuy mid-back vowels

...... 39 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Kuy /ɛ:, e:, o:/ : n = 80, t(77.37) = 2.62, p = 0.011 (but not significant if separate out front from back vowels)

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Vowel Spaces: Thro (left) vs. Kuy (right)

F2 F2 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 200 200

... 300 ì ì: ù: ì: i: 400 i: u: 400 i y u: è: e: ù: ò: 500 o: 600 È: E: E 600 È F1 F1 À A 700 800 àa 800

à 900 1000 a

1000

1200 1100 • No clear height differences in mid-front vowels for either language, but difference for Kuy mid-back vowels • Thro /ɛ, ɑ/ : n = 77, t(66.83) = 0.09, p = 0.93

...... 39 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Vowel Spaces: Thro (left) vs. Kuy (right)

F2 F2 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 200 200

... 300 ì ì: ù: ì: i: 400 i: u: 400 i y u: è: e: ù: ò: 500 o: 600 È: E: E 600 È F1 F1 À A 700 800 àa 800

à 900 1000 a

1000

1200 1100 • No clear height differences in mid-front vowels for either language, but difference for Kuy mid-back vowels • Thro /ɛ, ɑ/ : n = 77, t(66.83) = 0.09, p = 0.93 • Kuy /ɛ:, e:, o:/ : n = 80, t(77.37) = 2.62, p = 0.011 (but not significant if separate out front from back vowels) ...... 39 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Vowel Spaces: So Thavung

F2 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 300

ìi

400 u: ù:

500

Ò: È 600 F1 O: E

700

à: 800

900

• Only So Thavung seems to have a relatively clear height difference for all mid vowels: n = 51, t(47.92) = 2.5, p =0.016 ...... 40 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Younger speakers have more constrained f0 patterns and breathy vowels seem consistently lower • The male speaker seems to recruit high H1*-H2* to express breathiness and all the speakers except the young male speaker use high H1*-A3*

• Neither f0 (except perhaps for the older female speaker) nor vowel height seems to be a robust cue • Each of the acoustic correlates of breathiness seem to be recruited here, but to varying extents by speaker

• Kuy

• Thro

...... 41 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Neither f0 (except perhaps for the older female speaker) nor vowel height seems to be a robust cue • Each of the acoustic correlates of breathiness seem to be recruited here, but to varying extents by speaker

• Younger speakers have more constrained f0 patterns and breathy vowels seem consistently lower • The male speaker seems to recruit high H1*-H2* to express breathiness and all the speakers except the young male speaker use high H1*-A3* • Thro

• The male speaker seems to recruit high H1*-H2* to express breathiness and all the speakers except the young male speaker use high H1*-A3* • Thro

• Thro

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Discussion • So Thavung speakers do not seem to recruit any canonical correlates of breathiness to express the distinction, but instead are potentially transitioning it into a distinction of vowel height in mid vowels • Kuy • Younger speakers have more constrained f0 patterns and breathy vowels seem consistently lower • The male speaker seems to recruit high H1*-H2* to express breathiness and all the speakers except the young male speaker use high H1*-A3*

...... 41 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Each of the acoustic correlates of breathiness seem to be recruited here, but to varying extents by speaker

...... 41 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Discussion • So Thavung speakers do not seem to recruit any canonical correlates of breathiness to express the distinction, but instead are potentially transitioning it into a distinction of vowel height in mid vowels • Kuy • Younger speakers have more constrained f0 patterns and breathy vowels seem consistently lower • The male speaker seems to recruit high H1*-H2* to express breathiness and all the speakers except the young male speaker use high H1*-A3* • Thro • Neither f0 (except perhaps for the older female speaker) nor vowel height seems to be a robust cue • Each of the acoustic correlates of breathiness seem to be recruited here, but to varying extents by. . speaker...... 41 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • However, the less vital of the two seems to show younger speakers potentially beginning to use f0 redundantly as a cue (incipient tonogenesis? cf. Abramson et al. (2004)) • So Thavung seems to be restructuring the voice quality contrast into a vowel quality contrast • Thus, we see restructuring of the voice quality system interacting with the differing situations of language shift • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung

...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • However, the less vital of the two seems to show younger speakers potentially beginning to use f0 redundantly as a cue (incipient tonogenesis? cf. Abramson et al. (2004)) • So Thavung seems to be restructuring the voice quality contrast into a vowel quality contrast • Thus, we see restructuring of the voice quality system interacting with the differing situations of language shift • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung

...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • So Thavung seems to be restructuring the voice quality contrast into a vowel quality contrast • Thus, we see restructuring of the voice quality system interacting with the differing situations of language shift • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung

...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Thus, we see restructuring of the voice quality system interacting with the differing situations of language shift • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung

Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Directions • The two languages that are less endangered still have fairly strong cues of breathiness, although the cues differ by language and speaker (CPP is not a reliable correlate at all for Kuy) • However, the less vital of the two seems to show younger speakers potentially beginning to use f0 redundantly as a cue (incipient tonogenesis? cf. Abramson et al. (2004)) • So Thavung seems to be restructuring the voice quality contrast into a vowel quality contrast

...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung

...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References Directions • The two languages that are less endangered still have fairly strong cues of breathiness, although the cues differ by language and speaker (CPP is not a reliable correlate at all for Kuy) • However, the less vital of the two seems to show younger speakers potentially beginning to use f0 redundantly as a cue (incipient tonogenesis? cf. Abramson et al. (2004)) • So Thavung seems to be restructuring the voice quality contrast into a vowel quality contrast • Thus, we see restructuring of the voice quality system interacting with the differing situations of language shift • Plans: Analyze rest of speakers; get more controlled data for Thro and So Thavung ...... 42 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References เร่าะออ กู่นะกู่ได [rɑ͈ʔɑ: ku͈:naʔku͈:daj] Thanks everyone! [email protected]

Special thanks to all the people I worked with in Tambon Tum, Tambon Phothiphaisan, and Tambon Pathumwapi. Many thanks as well to Susan Lin, Andrew Garrett, Justin Davidson, Ron Sprouse, Pittayawat Pittayaporn, Suwilai Premsrirat, Sujinat Jitwiriyanont, Kumaree Laparporn, Atcharaporn Thawornpat, James Kirby, Ryan Gehrmann, Emily Remirez, Meg Cychosz, and Qingyang Wang for help at various stages in this research. Thanks to the Oswalt Endangered Languages Grant for funding this research...... 43 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References References I

Abramson, Arthur S. and L-Thongkum, Theraphan and Nye, Patrick W. 2004. Voice Register in Suai (Kuai): An Analysis of Perceptual and Acoustic Data. Phonetica 61:147–171. Hanson, Helen M. 1995. Glottal characteristics of female speakers. PhD Dissertation, Harvard University. Iseli, Markus and Shue, Yen-Liang and Alwan, Abeer. 2007. Age, sex, and vowel dependencies of acoustic measures related to the voice source. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 121:2283–2295. Kirby, James and Brunelle, Marc. 2017. Southeast Asian Tone in Areal Perspective. In The Cambridge Handbook of Areal Linguistics, ed. Raymond Hickey. Universität Duisburg-Essen: Cambridge University Press. McAuliffe, Michael and Socolof, Michaela and Mihuc, Sarah and Wagner, Michael and Sonderegger, Morgan. 2017. Montreal Forced Aligner: trainable text-speech alignment using Kaldi. In Proceedings of the 18th Conference of the International Speech Communication Association. Premsrirat, Suwilai. 1996. Phonological characteristics of So (Thavung), a Vietic language of Thailand. The Mon-Khmer Studies Journal 26:161–178...... 44 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand Social Background Language Background Hypotheses Methodology Preliminary Results References References II

Shue, Yen-L. and Keating, Patricia and Vicenik, Chad. 2011. Voicesauce: A program for voice analysis [computer program]. Proceedings of the ICPhS XVII 1846–1849. Wayland, Ratree and Jongman, Allard. 2002. Registrogenesis in khmer: a phonetic account. Mon-Khmer Studies 32:101–115. Winford, Donald. 2005. Contact-induced changes: Classification and processes. Diachronica 22:373–427.

...... 45 Raksit T. Lau Decay of Breathy Phonation in Austroasiatic Languages of Northeastern Thailand