Real Objects of Speech Perception: A Commentary on Diehl and Kluender

I agree with Diehl and Kluender (1989) that perceptual constraints guide the development of sound inventories and of phonological processes in languages. I disagree that these constraints are primary in comparison with other influences on sound inventories, such as articulatory ones. More important, I disagree that any of the evidence that Diehl and Kluender cite, indicates that objects of perception are auditory or acoustic rather than phonetic gestural. None of the evidence is persuasive; all of it is consistent with a view that perceptual objects are gestural. Viewed in a larger context-of a universal theory of perception-a theory that perceptual objects are gestural, whereas acoustic structure serves as information for gestures, is strongly promoted.