Proceedings

Interdental Substitution and the Feature [±distributed]

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Abstract

This paper proposes that cross-linguistic differences in the substitution of English interdental fricatives reflect non-contrastive specifications of the feature [±distributed] in the L1 coronal system. We examine whether languages whose coronal stops are realised as [+distributed] are more likely to substitute interdentals with stops rather than sibilants. Articulatory data were collected from speakers of German, Dutch, Turkish, Egyptian Arabic, and Moroccan Arabic using static palatography and linguography. Constriction length, treated as a phonetic exponent of [±distributed], was measured for L1 /t/ and compared across languages. The preliminary results show that dental and laminal stops are associated with longer constrictions than apical and alveolar stops, and that languages whose /t/ is classified as [+distributed] are more often associated with /t/-substitution. Egyptian Arabic, however, constitutes a counterexample, as it exhibits relatively long constrictions in /t/ and yet favours /s/-substitution. These findings indicate that [±distributed] may influence substitution behaviour, but that it is not sufficient on its own to determine interdental substitution.

Keywords: interdental substitution, second language phonology, L2 acquisition, [±distributed], coronal stops

How to Cite:

Sternefeld, L., (2026) “Interdental Substitution and the Feature [±distributed]”, Proceedings of the Annual Meetings on Phonology 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/amphonology.3693