THE CHARACTERISTICS OF CLOSED RHYMES IN VIETNAMESE: AN EXPERIMENTAL PHONETIC APPROACH

Abstract

Experimental investigations utilizing Praat software have provided
insights into several pivotal aspects regarding the delineation of distinctive
features within closed- rhyme (syllable) subtypes. The distribution of final
consonant positions impacts syllabic structure, length modulation within
syllables, and tonal contour distribution. Syllabic length in closed rhymes
(syllables) concluding with /p, t, k/ consonants is notably shorter compared to
those concluding with /m, n, ŋ/, /w, j/ and /zero/. Furthermore, the rising-
checked tone [sắc nhập] and low-checked tone [nặng nhập] within closed
rhymes (syllables) concluding with /p, t, k/ differ significantly from those in
open, semi- open, and semi- closed rhymes (syllables). Additional data further
support the 8-tones solution in Vietnamese phonetically.