Overlap and sonority in complex onsets in Georgian

This study investigates the relationship between the sonority shape of complex syllable onsets and articulatory overlap between the constituent consonants in Georgian (Kartvelian, Georgia; geo). Sonority sequencing and related phonological phenomena can be analyzed as epiphenomena related to perceptual cue preservation. The current study builds on previous research on Georgian that shows that order of place of articulation affects degree of overlap between stop-to-stop sequences and relates this back to issues of recoverability of segments within the sequence, and expands on this research to include complex syllable onsets with segmental makeups other than, but including, stop-to-stop sequences. Specifically, we use electromagnetic articulography (EMA) to examine the movements of the tongue, lips, and jaw during the production of Georgian words that cross three sonority shapes (rise, fall, and plateau) with front-to-back and back-to-front orders of place of articulation. Preliminary analyses confirm that there is less overlap in front-to-back clusters than in their back-to-front counterparts. It is also shown that sonority shape significantly affects overlap measures in interaction with order of place of articulations. This points towards a systematic relationship between sonority and overlap, which is discussed within the context of perceptual cue preservation and recoverability [Work supported by NSF.]