Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Research Background 1.2 Purpose of the Study 1.3 Theoretical Framework 1.4 Experimental Apparatus 1.5 Significance of the Study 1.6 Arrangement of the Dissertation Chapter Two Mandarin Sound System 2.1 Sounds in Mandarin 2.1.1 Consonants 2.1.2 Glides 2.1.3 Vowels 2.1.4 Tones 2.2 An Overview of Mandarin Syllables 2.2.1 Normal Syllables 2.2.2 Reduced Syllables 2.. Retroflexed Syllables 2.2.4 Reduced-Retroflexed Syllables Svllable:The Basic Unit of Gestual Organization ..1 A Basic Unit in Phonotactics ..2 A Basic Unit in Phonological Process .. A Basic Unit in Acoustics and Perception ..4 The Basic Unit in Articulation ..5 Summary 2.4 Previous Studies on the Timing Structure of Mandarin Syllables 2.4.1 Rens Truncation Model 2.4.2 Xu and Lius Model 2.4.3 Gaos Articulatory Study on Mandarin Syllable Structure 2.4.4 The Onset ofthe Retroflex Gesture 2.5 Summary Chapter Three Methodology 3.1 Participants 3.2 Speech Material 3.3 Recording Procedure 3.4 Processing the Data 3.5 Summary Chapter Four Intergestural Timing 4.1 Timing Relation between C and V Gestures 4.1.1 Gaos Articulation Research on the CV Lag in Mandarin 4.1.2 Speech Material 4.1.3 Results …… Chapter Five Slll Sructure: An Integrated Model Chapter Six Conclusion Appendix A Raw Data of Onset Lags between Gestures Appendix B Praat Scripts Coed for the Present Study Appendix C The Script for Extracting Articulatory Data References