Distinctions in negative voice onset time: Evidence from the labial velar stops of Gã (Niger Congo)

This study examines Voice Onset Time (VOT) in Gã, a Niger-Congo language, focusing on labial-velar stops (/kp/ and /gb/). Traditional approaches to VOT categorize stops into negative (voiced), short positive (voiceless unaspirated), and long positive (voiceless aspirated) areas. While the majority of literature states there are no distinctions in negative VOT, this research challenges that by finding distinct negative VOT subcategories in Gã. Using results from a field work study with 5 speakers, 159 tokens of /kp/ and /gb/ were manually measured. Both stops exhibit negative VOT, though in different ranges: /gb/ ranged from −5 to −348 ms (avg. −115 ms), while /kp/ ranged from −5 to −26 ms (avg. −14 ms). The implications are significant: this study disrupts traditional VOT norms by demonstrating distinct negative VOT categories, which is not discussed in phonetics. These findings suggest a need to reevaluate VOT categorizations, especially in relation to complex stop consonants like /kp/ and /gb/. Furthermore, this research underscores the importance of studying underrepresented languages like Gã to enrich our understanding of linguistic diversity and phonetic frameworks. Future research should explore how speakers perceive such sounds.