南琉球方言における「舌先的母音」の調音的特徴 : 宮古多良間方言を対象としたパラトグラフィー調査の初期報告

抄録

This paper discusses a cross-linguistically uncommon vowel attested in Southern Ryukyuan, i.e. a type of unrounded central high vowel with a certain laminal modification, which Uemura (2000) labels as a "laminal vowel" based on his subjective observation. By providing new palatographic and linguographic data of the Miyako-Tarama variety of Southern Ryukyuan, I examine Uemura's description, and describe important phonetic detail of the "laminal vowel" and other relevant sounds. In order to explore an adequate phonetic interpretation of the "laminal vowel", I utilize a phonetic classificatory distinction of [flat] vs. [grooved] proposed by Pike (1971).