This paper discusses word-initial (sibilant + consonant) sequences that may or may not be preceded by a vowel in Brazilian Portuguese, as, for example, in escola [isˈkɔlə] ~ [ˈskɔlə] ‘school’ or Skype [isˈkajpi] ~ [ˈskajpi]. They will be referred to as sC-clusters. The vowel-zero alternation in word-initial sC-clusters is an optional phenomenon in BP, which affects native and loan words at different rates. This study tested the hypothesis that the segmental string in word-initial sC-clusters differs for native and loan words, and that such a difference could be captured by the experimental analysis. Results showed that the vowel is shorter in loan words than in native words. Results also showed that when the vowel is not manifested, the sibilant is longer than when a vowel occurs. It is suggested that the durational properties of high vowels and sibilants characterize phonetic detail, which plays a role in the implementation of the vowel-zero alternation in sC-clusters in BP. Results were examined in light of Kaye’s (1992) representational model and Exemplar Models. The paper also indicates the relevance of experimental investigation in phonology, as suggested by Laboratory Phonology approaches.

中文翻译：

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巴西葡萄牙语的 sC-clusters

本文讨论了巴西葡萄牙语中可能以元音开头或不以元音开头的词首（咝音+辅音）序列，例如，在 escola [isˈkɔlə] ~ [ˈskɔlə] 'school' 或 Skype [isˈkajpi] ~ [ skajpi]。它们将被称为 sC 集群。词首 sC 簇中的元音零交替是 BP 中的一种可选现象，它以不同的比率影响本地词和外来词。本研究检验了以下假设，即词首 sC 簇中的分段字符串对于本地词和外来词是不同的，并且这种差异可以通过实验分析来捕捉。结果表明，借词中的元音比母语中的元音短。结果还表明，当元音不出现时，嘶嘶声比元音出现时长。建议高元音和咝咝声的持续属性表征语音细节，这在 BP 中 sC 簇中元音零交替的实现中发挥作用。根据 Kaye (1992) 的代表性模型和示例模型检查结果。正如实验室音韵学方法所建议的那样，该论文还指出了音韵学实验研究的相关性。