Spatial and dynamic aspects of retroflex production: An ultrasound and EMA study of Kannada geminate stops

This study investigates the production of geminate retroflex stops in Kannada using a combination of ultrasound and articulography. Data obtained from 10 native speakers of the language show that the retroflex gesture is dynamically complex and asymmetrical, involving an anticipatory retraction of the tongue tip, followed by the raising of this articulator towards the hard palate, and subsequent rapid flapping-out movement during the closure and the release. The retroflex constriction and the forward movement appear to be facilitated by the simultaneous fronting of the posterior tongue body, flattening of the anterior tongue body, and lowering of the jaw. Compared to dental and velar stops, retroflex stops exert extensive anticipatory and perseverative coarticulatory effects on adjacent vowels and inter-speech intervals. With respect to the magnitude of the tongue tip displacement, the anticipatory effects are greater than perseverative effects. The results of the study thus offer a multi-faceted view of spatial and dynamic aspects of retroflex stop production in Kannada, confirming and extending previous findings for other Dravidian languages. The results also provide support for general models of lingual consonant production and coarticulation.