Weiyu Li

This study investigated the voicing implementation of Japanese intervocalic stops using ultrasound and acoustic analysis. Acoustic analysis revealed that Japanese voiced stops exhibited a high voicing ratio during closure and a relatively short release burst interval, along with a high occurrence rate of consonant weakening. Japanese voiceless stops showed partial voicing during closure due to passive voicing from the preceding vowel. Articulatory analysis indicated that the tongue position at the maximal constriction was higher for voiceless stops than for voiced stops. Active sustainment of voicing was observed for voiced stops, and consonant weakening may also contribute to the sustainment.