On the Temporal Structure of Estonian Secondary-Stressed Feet
On the Temporal Structure of Estonian Secondary-Stressed Feet

Summary/Abstract: The article focuses on Estonian words of two and more feet, comparing the temporal structures of the feet in words of four to six syllables that consist of short primary- and secondary-stressed syllables. A phonological introduction to the problem of secondary stress in Estonian is followed by the treatment of lengthening of vowels in secondary-stressed feet. The article then analyses duration ratios on the basis of phonetic data. The pronunciations of the western and eastern peripheries of Estonia -- western Saaremaa and eastern Võrumaa -- are compared to follow possible regional differences in Standard Estonian. It appears that only in Saaremaa the unstressed vowel in a secondary-stressed foot has generally lengthened, and the duration ratios of the secondary-stressed foot are similar to that of the primary-stressed foot. In both areas the temporal structure of feet depends on the general structure of the prosodic word.

• Details
• Contents