Catalan Phonetics: Approximants, Simplification, and Sound Changes
Approximant Realization of Stops
When a stop consonant ([b], [d], and [g]) occurs in a syllable-initial position, it may not always maintain its full occlusive articulation. In certain phonetic contexts, a relaxation occurs, bringing the articulators closer together but not fully closing the airflow. This results in a sound that is longer and more approximant-like. The approximant equivalents of these stops are [β], [ð], and [ɣ], respectively.
While approximantization is a general phenomenon in all Catalan dialects, the extent to which it occurs varies. Even within the same dialect, there can be significant idiolectal variation depending on the speaker’s degree of relaxation. Therefore, the contexts in which this phenomenon occurs are generally specified, keeping in mind that full occlusion can still be found in certain contexts. The contexts presented below are conventional.
Approximantization only occurs with stops in syllable-initial position. Therefore, the first condition is that the stop must be at the beginning of a syllable. This condition is necessary but not sufficient. It is easier to establish when approximantization does not occur. Stops are always approximants when they are in syllable-initial position, unless:
- They are in absolute initial position.
- They are preceded by a nasal or occlusive sound.
- They are followed by a sound with the same or a very close point of articulation.
Note that the groups /bl/ and /gl/ in post-tonic position and their derivatives tend to be realized as [bb] and [gg], e.g., poble [ˈpɔb.blə], regla [ˈreɡ.glə]. Standard pronunciation avoids realizations like [ˈpɔp.plə] or [ˈpɔ.blə]. In other contexts, a systematic realization as described above is common, e.g., problema [pruˈβle.mə], alegre [əˈle.ɣɾə].
Simplification of Complex Syllable Codas
Syllable codas can be formed by more than one consonant. Some of these codas are simplified in absolute final position, although this does not occur in all varieties of Catalan. In principle, the groups that are most commonly simplified are those presenting two consonants with the same point of articulation, i.e., the groups [nt], [mp], [rt], [ŋk], [ɫt], and [st]. Note that in the group [ŋk], the nasal consonant maintains its point of articulation.
Examples:
- Camp (kam)
- Fort (fɔɾt)
- Alt (aɫt)
Consonant Sensitization
Occasionally, a consonant that was elided is reinstated. This context occurs when the consonant is followed by a vowel for syntactic reasons, or when a verb in the infinitive is followed by a weak pronoun. Some of these sensitizations are orthological rather than real. These phenomena exhibit many dialectal and idiolectal variations.
Allophonic Variations of /r/
In Central Catalan, the normal realization of /r/ is [ɾ]. In general, [ɾ] can only appear between vowels or after a stop or approximant. In any other context, it is realized as [r]:
Examples:
- Cara (ˈka.ɾə)
- Braç (bɾas)
- Amor (əˈmoɾ)
Devoicing of Obstruents at the End of a Word
In Catalan, any obstruent in absolute final position is consistently devoiced, even if it originates from a voiced sound, and even if the spelling suggests a voiced sound.
Examples:
- Calba (ˈkal.bə) → (ˈkal.pə)
- Groc (ˈɡɾɔk) → (ˈɡɾɔk)
- Fred (fɾɛt)
Voicing of Obstruents in Contact
As specified in the previous section, stops in final position are always devoiced. However, when an occlusive consonant in the coda comes into contact with another consonant due to syntactic phonetics, it is voiced. Note that voicing does not occur if it comes into contact with a vowel!
Example:
Fred: [,fɾɛ.tin ˈtu], but fred viu [ˈfɾɛd ˈbiw]
Voicing of Fricatives and Affricates in Contact
As already stated, fricatives and affricates, being obstruents, are systematically devoiced in absolute final position. However, as with stops, they are always voiced when, being in the coda, they come into contact with another voiced sound, whether vowel or consonant. Note that the voicing of stops does not occur if they come into contact with a vowel!
Examples:
- Gas [ˈɡas]; gas inert [,ɡa.ziˈnɛɾt]; gas bori [,ɡaz.βoˈɾi.us]
- Dibuix [diˈβuʃ]; dibuix artístic [diˈβuʒ əɾˈtis.tik]