Phonological Variation in French: Illustrations from Three Continents ed. by Randall Gess, et al (review)

Reviews 289 consonants and vowels, along with the history of nasal vowels and a debate surrounding their development. Chapter 2 is dedicated to the aerodynamic characteristics of nasal vowels and starts with a review of the methodologies and instruments used to measure nasal air flow, followed by results and factors accountable for variability (for example, individual, prosodic, stylistic, and regional variation). The use of dozens of graphics throughout the chapter is particularly appreciated, as they facilitate an understanding of the aerodynamic nature of nasal versus oral vowels. Chapter 3 presents methods employed for articulatory analyses, along with their results.As in the previous chapter, Delvaux addresses factors of variability before highlighting the complex relationship between articulatory phases and aerodynamics. Chapter 4 reviews acoustic theories of nasal vowels and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the methods used for measurement (modelization, spectral analysis, and nasometry). The author then examines data on nasalized vowels before focusing specifically on French nasal vowels. Chapter 5 provides a detailed review of perception studies. The first part is more practical and focuses particularly on methodological aspects (for example, experimental tasks, stimuli, and participants) and paradigms used in various experiments (such as identification, discrimination, gating, and eye-tracking). The rest of the chapter covers issues such as coarticulation, perceived nasality, and perceptual properties.Although Delvaux mentions one of her studies on the perception of French nasal vowels by American English listeners, a longer section about perception by nonnative speakers is needed. Overall, this book is a useful resource for anyone interested in French nasal vowels. Even though the text often seems directed to an expert audience, the abundant use of figures, graphics, and tables facilitates understanding for novice readers. A possible way to make this book more accessible to students and scholars new to the field would be to include a glossary of key terms. In addition, a general conclusion synthesizing the book and a paragraph or two about future directions for research would have been welcome. Michigan State University Solène Inceoglu Gess,Randall,Chantal Lyche, and Trudel Meisenburg, eds.PhonologicalVariation in French: Illustrations from Three Continents. Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2012. ISBN 978-9-0272-3491-9. Pp. 397. $158. Emerging from the Phonologie du français contemporain (PFC) project,Gess,Lyche, and Meisenburg assemble detailed descriptions of the phonology of twelve French regional variants: three situated in sub-Saharan Africa (Central African Republic, Senegal, and Mali), four in Europe (Marseille, Belgium, Paris, and Switzerland), and five in North America (New Brunswick, Quebec, Louisiana, Ontario, and Alberta). Also included are two additional contributions: a preliminary chapter, which outlines the shared PFC methodology, gives a brief description of le français de référence (FR, “the usage described in most pronunciation materials” [2]), and reviews the phonological issues in focus; and a concluding chapter, which provides a succinct synthesis of regional variation. Each chapter addresses a common set of phonological issues: vowel and consonant inventories, the distinction or neutralization of FR phonemic contrasts (Ã-nj, ɑ-a, and ε̃-œ ~), the presence of ε in final open syllables, glide behavior, rhotic variation, schwa behavior (elision, epenthesis, and surface form), and liaison. Respective authors provide pertinent historical and geo-political information, as well as clarifications of any departure from the common methodology (for example, additional word lists). The editors’adoption of the PFC framework addresses some of the most salient regionalisms and well-known particularities of French variants and provides a clear organizational structure to the volume as a whole and to respective chapters, facilitating comparison across contexts. Contributions are well written and respond to the goals of the PFC project, even if phonetically-oriented readers may be left desiring acoustic or other evidence for some descriptive claims. Individual contributions are complemented by a useful introductory chapter, which succeeds in presenting the pertinent phonological variables and describing their importance without becoming bogged down in controversy. The selection of contributions to this volume ensures relative balance of perspectives and areal foci and includes a number of varieties underrepresented in the literature, notably those of sub-Saharan Africa. Although the numeric weight of Canadian contributors should be acknowledged, the distinction among varieties achieves the laudable goal of pushing back against a monolithic view of...