Timing patterns of word-initial obstruent-sonorant clusters in Russian

This study investigates intra-cluster timing patterns in Russian obstruent-sonorant clusters as a function of their segmental composition. The results confirm for Russian a velar-nasal (/kn, gn/) vs. velar-lateral (/kl, gl/) timing difference like the one reported for German [2], but this could not be extended to labiallateral/nasal clusters (/vl, ml/ vs. /vn, mn/), which were all timed similarly. In addition, place of articulation of C1 (velar vs. labial) determined different timing patterns when C2 was a nasal (longer lags for /kn, gn/ than for /vn, mn/), but not when C2 was a lateral (/pl, bl, kl, gl/). The results support a place of articulation order effect [3] for obstruent-nasal but not for obstruent-lateral clusters. The pattern of results was robust across two speaking rates. We discuss how aerodynamic and perceptual requirements on intra-cluster timing may explain the patterns observed.