Heriberto Avelino

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig

phone.: +49 (341) 3550 - 316
fax: +49 (341) 3550 - 333

  e-mail: heriberto_avelinoeva.mpg.de

Heriberto Avelino received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from UCLA in 2004 under the mentorship of Pam Munro and Peter Ladefoged. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at UC Berkeley from 2004-2006 working in collaboration with and mentorship of Ian Maddieson. He has held teaching/researching positions at UCLA (2001-2003), UC Berkeley (2004-2006), Stanford University (2007), Toronto University (2008) before joining the MPI in 2009 as the director of the MPI Phonetics Laboratory. His research interests include Phonetic Universals and Typology, Field Phonetic and Laboratory Phonology, Phonetic Databases and Endangered languages.

Research Projects:

Typology of Laryngeal features in Languages of the Americas

An orthogonal contrast between two laryngeal features: modal vs. non-modal phonation and tone has been reported in a number of languages from different Amerindian linguistic families. This project investigates the phonetics of laryngeal contrasts observed in four languages: Yalálag Zapotec, Yucatec Maya, Ocotepec Mixe and Yuhup.

Aerodynamics of Complex Nasal Segments

Descriptions of complex nasal segments in a number of languages families such Dayak, Otomanguean Dogon and Yuhup, include pre- and pos-nasalized sounds obstruents as well as pre- and post- occluded nasals. The goal of this project is to provide a phonetic account of the aerodynamics and kinematics of the gestures involved in producing these segments. Work in collaboration with Uri Tadmor (De Gruyter Mouton), Ana Maria Ospina (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) and Jeff Heath (University of Michigan).

Articulatory-Acoustic mapping of Coronals in American languages

Languages of the Americas (e.g. Pima (Uto-Aztecan) and Yalálag Zapotec (Oto-Manguean, Mixe (Mixe-Zoquean) have rich inventories of coronal consonants. This project aims to characterize the fine articulatory and acoustic properties of coronal consonants which regardless of being compressed in a narrow space show a wide range of articulatory variability. Work in collaboration with Silke Hamman (U Düsseldorf).

Intonational patterns of Topic and Focus constructions in Yucatec Maya

This project looks at the interface between information structure and prosodic cues. Yucatec Maya is of particular interest as it is a language that allows a flexible order of major constituent and constrasts pitch and non-modal phonation. Nonetheless, each variation may differ in the pragmatic information it conveys, as well as in their prosodic properties. Work in collaboration with Rodrigo Gutierrez (Colmex).

A comparative study of Word Final Devoicing

The phonetic and phonological status of final devoicing of obstruents has been for a long time a controversial topic. In the last 20 years numerous phonological as well as phonetic accounts of this topic had been made. However, the phonetic evidence relies only on acoustic data. In this project a variety of instrumental techniques, such as aerodyamics and electroglottography, are used for the first time to address the essence of the phenomenon.

Intervention of Databases and Massive Corpora for Phonetic Analysis

Massive databases and corpora have been increasing in recent years as the result of various language documentation programs around the world. Unfortunately, most databases are not suitable for phonetic research. The aim of this project is to develop and extend methodologies and tools for designing and maximally exploiting the already existing massive databases of spoken language. Work in collaboration with David Gil (Jakarta Field Station, MPI EVA Linguistics).

Phonetics and Phonology of Amazonian languages from Colombia

Three languages of the Amazons, Yuhup Yucuna and Makuna from the Vaupes region are being investigated. These languages belong to different language families but present striking similar sound patterns and phonological processes such as complex laryngeal patterns, non-modal phonation, tone, complex nasal segments and coarticulation.

The project aims at the documentation, analysis and description of these patterns. In addition, we are interested in investigating whether these similarities are due to the close contact in a geographical niche. Work in collaboration with Ana Maria Ospina (Universidad Nacional de Colombia).

Phonetic Documentation of Dogon and Bangime

A series of phonetic analysis will account for the properties of these languages. Topics include complex nasal segments; presence of high front rounded semivowel; possible ATR harmony; tone. Work in collaboration with Jeff Heath (University of Michigan).