VOT in loanwords in Finnish Evidence for prevoicing of initial /b, d, ɡ/

This study examines Voice Onset Time (VOT) in Finnish /b, d, ɡ/ and /p, t, k/ in initial position. The study aims to investigate whether a contrast is observed between phonological voiced (borrowed)stops versus voiceless (native) stops in initial position, and if so whether it is manifested as a phonetic VOT contrast. The status of /b, d, ɡ/ and especially of the borrowed /b, ɡ/ has been the topic of some debate, but not many empirical studies on the phonetic properties of these phones exist. This exploratory study shows that young speakers with knowledge of English and (Fenno-)Swedish show a tendency of prevoicing /b, d, ɡ/. Prevoicing the /b, d,ɡ/ series could stem from influence from (Fenno-)Swedish or simply from the need to keep /b, d, ɡ/separate from the native voiceless unaspirated /p, t,k/ series.