The contribution of vowel duration, F0 contour, and frication duration as cues to the /juz/-/jus/ distinction.

A model was quantified to describe the integration of vowel duration, fricative duration, and fundamental frequency (F0) contour as cues to final position fricatives differing in voicing. The basic assumptions are that perceived vowel duration and perceived frication duration are cues to the identity of final position fricatives and that both Fo contour and vowel duration influence perceived vowel duration. Binary choice and rating responses to synthetic stimuli varying independently along the three dimensions were collected. The results were consistent with the assumption that F0 contour operates by modifying perceived vowel duration, which is a direct cue. Unfortunately, the nature of the modification appears to be very similar in form to that which results from the integration of two independent cues in syllable identification. Therefore, the results do not allow a rejection of the idea that the perception of Fo contour may directly cue the identity of final position fricatives.