Nasal coda identification in Zhangzhou dialect

Abstract

Zhangzhou (ZZ) dialects are characterized by the coda nasals [m, n, ŋ]. This study investigates nasal identification among 68 native speakers of ZZ through an experiment employing tVC high-tone waveforms. Stimuli comprised 15 combinations of 5 vowels (/i, e, a, o, u/) and 3 codas (/m, n, ŋ/). Results from a mixed-effects logistic regression model revealed that both vowel and coda significantly influenced nasal identification. Proportion tests with z-scores further indicated that all rimes were correctly identified except for [em], [on], [um], and [uŋ]. Notably, [on] was often perceived as [oŋ], and [um/uŋ] as [un], reflecting the phonotactic bias for ZZ natives. In addition, [em] was perceived either as [em] or [en], because of the similarity of F2 transitions. ZZ native listeners’ nasal coda identification reflects the interaction between phonotactic knowledge and F2-based perceptual confusion.