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- Title
Consonant-vowel co-occurrence patterns in Mandarin-learning infants.
- Authors
Li-Mei Chen; Kent, Raymond D.
- Abstract
Most studies on CV co-occurrence patterns in early phonetic development have been based on Indo-European languages. Data from infants learning Mandarin, which has a substantially different phonological system from Indo-European languages, can confirm or refute the findings of previous studies, thus shedding further light on the theoretical bases of CV association. Spontaneous vocalizations were recorded in 45-minute sessions for each of 24 Mandarin-learning infants aged 0 ;7 to 1; 6. In addition, the speech production of 24 caregivers was audio-recorded during their natural daily interactions with the infants at home. Both infants' vocalizations and adults' speech were transcribed and analysed for consonant-vowel co-occurrence patterns. These patterns were similar to those in other language groups, but language-specific patterns were evident by 1 ; 0. Combinations of alveolars + front vowels and velars + back vowels confirm Davis & MacNeilage's (1990, 1995) frame-then-content theory and Clements's (1991) model of unified features for consonants and vowels. However, our finding of a language-specific pattern (labials + back vowels) suggests the need to reexamine the 'pure frame' of Davis & MacNeilage and Clements's grouping of labials and rounded vowels.
- Subjects
CHILDREN'S language; NEWBORN infant development; PHONOLOGY; VOWELS; CONSONANTS; MANDARIN dialects
- Publication
Journal of Child Language, 2005, Vol 32, Issue 3, p507
- ISSN
0305-0009
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0305000905006896