A Preliminary Acoustic Study of Vowels in Tiwa

This study conducts a preliminary acoustic analysis of Tiwa vowels as spoken in the Amsai dialect of Karbi Anglong in Assam a state of Northeast India. Utilizing 120 audio recordings collected from Shikdamakha in Umswai Village, the research focuses on eight distinct monophthongal vowel sounds: /a/, / æ /, / ᵄ /, $/ \boldsymbol{\varepsilon} /, / \mathbf{i} /, / \boldsymbol{\Lambda} /, / \boldsymbol{\varphi} /$, and $/ \boldsymbol{\gamma} /$. Analysis of each vowel’s frequency and distribution reveals notable differences, with /a/ being the most frequent. Acoustic analysis further highlights unique articulatory patterns, particularly a pronounced F2 - F1 difference observed in vowels such as “i” and “æ”, suggesting potential phonological significance. This research provides foundational insights into Tiwa vowel phonetics within the Amsai dialect, emphasizing the value of acoustic analysis in understanding linguistic diversity.