Cross-regional differences in the perception of fricative devoicing

In Dutch, onset /v/ is becoming voiceless. Regional differences have been observed in the degree of devoicing and in the acoustic implementation of the /v/–/f/ contrast. We test whether these regional differences – reflecting different stages of the change in progress – are reflected in perception. We present the results of a speeded categorization task of stimuli that were systematically varied for periodicity and duration. Listeners were selected in three regions: West-Flanders (incipient phase), Randstad (intermediate phase) and Groningen (advanced phase). Twenty participants per region categorized 405 stimuli as v or f. Periodicity is a strong cue in all regions, duration only plays a minor role. Regional differences show up in the degree of categoricity and in uncertainty.