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), University of Helsinki (2007), Toronto University (2008) before joining the MPI in 2009as the director of the Phonetics Laboratory. His research interests include Phonetic Universals and Typology, Field Phonetics and Laboratory Phonology, Phonetic Databases and Endangered languages.

Curriculum Vitae [pdf]

Publications [pdf]

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.
Avelino, 2010 [pdf]; Avelino (in press) (pre-print available
on request) (Avelino_Brill)

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). [pdf]

Physiology, Phonetics and Sound Change

A very influential hypothesis of sound change argues that the listener
is the fundamental source of sound change (Ohala, 1981) and that
recurrent patterns of attested sound change can be explained in terms
of the dynamics of production-perception without invoking teleological
argumentation. The goal of this project is to investigate the feature
ATR, Advanced Tongue Root, in a number of languages (Hindi, Sarawak,
West African, Armenian, Amazonian) and its connection with contrasts
in voice quality. We aim at testing the hypothesis that vowels with an
expanded pharynx expose more compliant surface area to the impinging
oral pressure and in that way can accommodate more of the air flowing
into the oral cavity and delay the moment when the pressure drop
across the glottis is too low to provide sufficient airflow for vocal
cord vibration. We investigate empirically the diachronic processes
attested in some of the languages that suggest a link between more
fronted vowels and voicing in obstruents. In collaboration with
Manjari Ohala (San Jose Cal State) and John Ohala (UC-Berkeley)

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).
[pdf]

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
contrasts 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). [pdf]

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
aerodynamics and electroglottography, are used for the first time to
address the essence of the phenomenon. [pdf]

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).