Cantonese

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VOT in initial stops in Cantonese



Cantonese is a language with two-way contrasts:
Voiceless aspirated vs. voiceless unaspirated.


pʰa
("to lie prone")
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tʰa
("he/she")
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kʰa
("truck")
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pa
("father")
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ta
("dozen")
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ka
("to add")
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Tone in Cantonese


Tone Description
high, level si
("silk")
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mid, level si
("to try")
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low-mid, level si
("matter")
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low-mid to low, falling si
("time")
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low-mid to high, rising si
("history")
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low-mid to mid, rising si
("city")
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Audio Source:
Illustrations of the IPA.

References:
Ladefoged, P. (2005): Vowels and consonants: an introduction to the sounds of languages. Malden: Blackwell.