An EPG Study of the Articulatory Difference between Korean and English Affricates

한국어 파찰음과 영어 파찰음의 조음적 차이에 관한 연구

Using EPG, the stop and fricative portions of the Korean and English afficates were examined to find out whether the stop and fricative portions of Korean affricates are the same as those of English ones in articulation, as generally assumed in the literature. The English affricate in the word 'choose' is classified as alveopalatal just like the Korean affricate in the word 'cam'. The results of the EPG data showed that Korean affricates were not articulated the same as those in English, especially in the stop portion. In English, the stop portion of 'choose' was quite similar to /t/ as 'tooth', but in Korean, the stop portion of 'cam' was somewhat different from /t/ in 'tam'. More specifically, the stop portion of /t/ in 'tam' was articulated with the contact at the upper teeth and the alveolar ridge, but the stop portion of /t/ in 'cam' was articulated with the contact in the alveopalatal region. This shifting in the place of articulation of the stop portions of the Korean affricate (from dental and alveolar to alveopalatal) can be explained. Unlike English affricates, the stop portions of Korean affricates and the fricative portions of Korean affricates are co-articulated at the same place of articulation.