Speaker: Edward Flemming (MIT) and Amy Li (MIT)
Title: An optimization-based approach to phonetic grammar
Time: Thursday, April 30, 12:30pm – 2pm
Location: 32-D461
Abstract: A phonetic grammar maps phonological representations onto acoustic or articulatory trajectories. In the tonal domain, this involves mapping tone categories onto f0 trajectories that are aligned to the segmental string (Pierrehumbert 1980). One challenge of modeling a phonetic grammar is to derive variation in the realization of phonological units as a function of variation in the context. To address this challenge, we develop an optimization-based model of phonetic grammar where the constraints on phonetic realization are derived from phonological representations and articulatory limitations. The model is illustrated through a case study of the Mandarin rising tone, focusing on variation in realization due to varying speech rate.