Voice quality strengthening and glottalization

Prominence and phrase-initial position strongly favor the presence of word-initial glottalization in English and other languages. This suggests that word-initial glottalization may arise from prosodic strengthening – the phenomenon by which sounds are more ‘strongly’ articulated in stronger prosodic positions. However, if word-initial glottalization is due to prosodic strengthening, what exactly is being strengthened? The goal of this study is to determine whether voice quality is strengthened in vowels and sonorants, and whether this type of strengthening is consistent with word-initial glottalization. Prominent and/or phrase-initial voicing in English and Spanish was analyzed articulatorily using electroglottography. The results reveal that voicing during word-initial vowels in English and Spanish has increased contact under prominence, but not at phrasal onsets. Non-prominent initial vowels and sonorants are characterized by a decrease in contact, which I argue is inconsistent with both word-initial glottalization and voice quality strengthening. Based on the results, a prominence-driven account of word-initial glottalization is proposed and motivated. •EGG study of voice quality of initial vowels and sonorants in English and Spanish.•Prominent word-initial vowels in English and Spanish show increased EGG contact.•Phrase-initial sonorants and non-prominent vowels have decreased EGG contact.•A prominence-driven account of word-initial glottalization is proposed.