Emphatic segments and emphasis spread in Lebanese Arabic: a Real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Production of emphatic consonants by a speaker of Lebanese Arabic was examined using real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI). Emphatic consonants were found to be articulated with a lowered, more retracted tongue body than their nonempatic counterparts, with the narrowest emphatic constriction observed in the upper pharynx. Both progressive and regressive emphasis spread was observed; spreading was not blocked by an intervening palatal approximant [j]. Emphaticized segments exhibit similar retraction and depression, with magnitudes that vary depending on the direction of spreading. These data suggest that emphasis spread may operate in a phoneticallycomplex way, not currently accounted for by phonological theory, and in addition, illustrate the advantage of real-time MRI as a method for studying emphasis in Semitic phonology.