The Psychological Unreality of Quantity Sensitivity in Spanish: Experimental Evidence‪.‬

ABSTRACT. This study presents experimental results testing the psychological reality of Spanish quantity sensitivity through a NONCE WORD TEST. The syllabic structures being tested include the following: 'CVC.CVC.CV and 'CVC.CV.rV. It has been claimed that these structures are restricted because of QUANTITY SENSITIVITY. The results show that both sets of experimental data are possible Spanish words, and, therefore, that the often-assumed restrictions on antepenultimate stress are not psychologically real for Spanish speakers. These results indicate that Spanish is not quantity sensitive; the lack of antepenultimate stress in the two situations considered is the result of historical developments and is not a productive restriction on Spanish stress. *