Neutralization of Word-Final Voicing in Russian

Abstract

This paper has two aims. The first is to describe a pilot instrumental study of the incomplete neutralization of Russian final dental stops /t/ and /d/. This study refutes the results of a previous instrumental study of word-final voicing neutralization, which suggested that /t/ and /d/ are completely neutralized word-finally. The study examines several phonetic quantities that might be correlated with incomplete neutralization and serve as cues for the correct classification of voiced and voiceless obstruents. The second aim is to bring forward an extensive summary and discussion of previous studies and theories on incomplete neutralization.