Phonetic imitation of a reduced voice onset time on word-initial voiceless stops by native English speakers

This paper investigated whether native English speakers with exposure to a true voicing language (Spanish) would imitate a reduced voice onset time (VOT) on word-initial voiceless stops in English. Nielsen (2011) indicates native English speakers will not imitate a reduced VOT on word-initial voiceless stops since it is approaching the phonological boundary with voiced stops. However, there have been several studies that have found imitation toward a phonological boundary (Mitterer and Enertus 2008, Podlipsky and Simackova 2015). There were nine Native English speakers, some with Spanish language exposure. They completed an imitation study with word initial /p/ and /k/ words with a reduced and enhanced VOT in English. Results indicate that those with and without Spanish exposure do imitate a reduced VOT on word initial voiceless stops in English. The results from the English speakers without Spanish exposure conflict with previous studies that found that native English speakers will not imitate a reduced VOT on word initial voiceless stops to preserve the phonological boundary with voiced stops. The results indicate that native English speakers, whether they have exposure to a true voicing language or not, will approach the phonological boundary with voiced stops in a VOT imitation task.