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Development of the voiceless sibilant fricative contrast in three-year-olds: an ultrasound and acoustic study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2020

Natalia ZHARKOVA Open the ORCID record for Natalia ZHARKOVA [Opens in a new window]
Natalia ZHARKOVA*
Affiliation:
Speech and Language Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Natalia Zharkova, Speech and Language Sciences, King George VI Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom. Email: dr.natalia.zharkova@gmail.com
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Abstract

The study analysed spectral and tongue shape dynamics of voiceless alveolar and postalveolar fricatives produced by ten children learning Scottish English. Synchronised ultrasound tongue imaging data and acoustic data were used to characterise children's productions of the phonemic contrast. Six children had consistently accurate productions of both fricative targets, with some cross-consonant phonetic differences in the direction previously demonstrated for older children and adults, as well as some immature acoustic and articulatory dynamic patterns. Instrumental analyses made it possible to describe tongue shape for phonemic errors and phonetically distorted realisations. There was some evidence of articulatory contrast in production preceding contrast in perception. The observed patterns can be explained by the complex articulatory demands on the fricative production, in combination with the developing control of articulators. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of the results for phonological theory and for speech therapy practice.

Keywords

phonemic contrast acquisitionphonetic analysislingual articulation
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 48 , Issue 6 , November 2021 , pp. 1126 - 1149
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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