P-Analysis: Dispersion and Neutralization of Acoustic Cognitive Cues in

Cognitive acoustic cues have an important role in shaping the phonological structure of language as a means to optimal communication. In this paper، we introduced P-trac procedure in order to track dispersion of contrasts in different contexts in lexicon. The results of applying P-trac procedure to the case of dispersion of contrasts in preconsonantal contexts and in consonantal positions of CVCC sequences in Persian provide Evidence in favor of phonetic basis of the dispersion of contrasts argued by Licensing by Cue hypothesis and the Dispersion Theory of Contrast. The P-trac procedure is proved to be very effective in revealing the dispersion of contrasts in lexicon especially when providing means to compare the dispersion of contrasts in various contexts.