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

• Published in: Journal of child language 2021-11, Vol.48 (6), p.1126-1149
• Main Author: ZHARKOVA, Natalia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Acoustic phonetics; Acoustics; Adults; Age Differences; Articulation; Articulation (Speech); Articulatory phonetics; Children; Children & youth; Dentistry; Diagnostic Tests; English; English language; Error Patterns; Foreign Countries; Fricatives; Human Body; Individualized Instruction; Language Variation; Native Language; Native language acquisition; Phonemes; Phonemics; Phonetics; Phonology; Preschool Children; Scottish English; Speech; Speech Communication; Speech Evaluation; Speech Therapy; Tongue; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 0305-0009; 1469-7602
• DOI: 10.1017/S0305000920000653

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.