2016 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 23-37
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the diachronic change in Voice Onset Time (VOT) of Korean word-initial stops associated with gender differences. Seventy-four native speakers of Seoul Korean, aged 15–59 years (born 1955–1999), were recruited for the production test. The results presently indicate three discernible stages of sound change in VOT value of stops—distinction, overlap, and merger—and females lead the change in VOT. As of 2015, Males in their 40s and 50s have a clear distinction in VOT between lenis and aspirated stops, while males in their 30s and under overlap the two stops but do not merge them. On the other hand, females in their 40s and 50s overlap the VOT between lenis and aspirated stops, whereas females in their 30s and under completely merge the two stops.
