UCL Working Papers in Linguistics 9 (1997)
The relative complexity of Catalan vowels and their perceptual correlates
PHIL HARRISON
Different phonological analyses of front-mid vowels can be seen to agree on one
point: [e] is more
complex than []. Support for the validity of this claim is potentially available from perceptual
and
acquisitional studies. The vowels of Catalan are described, and procedures detailed which
identify
formant values for Catalan front-mid vowels. Empirical tests using native speakers and
English
controls reveal prototypes for these vowels in vocalic space. No link between perception and
complexity is observed, but the findings augur well for future work in acquisition.