Speech foundations

Place

where is it made

Manner

how is it made

Voicing

do the vocal folds vibrate?

What does "manner of articulation" describe?

how airflow is modified to produce a speech sound

What is a stop?

A sound produced by completely stopping the airflow, then releasing it.

Which English sounds are stops?

/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/.

Which stops are voiced?

b/, /d/, /g/.

Which stop sounds are voiceless?

/p/, /t/, /k/.

What is a frictative?

A sound produced by forcing air through a narrow opening, creating friction.

Which English sounds are fricatives?

/f/, /v/, /θ/, /ð/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /h/.

Name 3 voiced fricatives

/v/, /z/, /ð/.

Name 3 voiceless fricatives

/f/, /s/, /θ/.

What is an affricate?

A sound that begins as a stop and releases into a fricative.

Which English sounds are affricates?

/tʃ/ ("ch") and /dʒ/ ("j").

Which affricate is voiced?

/dʒ/.

Which affricate is voiceless?

/tʃ/.

What is a nasal sound?

A sound produced with airflow through the nose.

Which english sounds are nasals?

m/, /n/, /ŋ/.

Why can air flow through the nose during nasal sounds?

the velum is lowered

What is a liquid?

A consonant produced with relatively little obstruction to airflow.

Which english sounds are liquids?

/l/ and /r/.

What is a glide?

A consonant produced with minimal constriction and movement toward a vowel.

Which english sounds are glides?

/w/ and /j/ ("y" as in yes).

How would you describe /p/?

voiceless bilabial stop

How would you describe /b/?

voiced bilabial stop

How would you describe /m/?

voiced bilablial nasal

How would you describe /f/?

voiceless labiodental fricative

How would you describe /v/?

Voiced labiodental fricative.

How would you describe /t/?

Voiceless alveolar stop.

How would you describe /d/?

Voiced alveolar stop.

How would you describe /s/?

Voiceless alveolar fricative.

How would you describe /z/?

Voiced alveolar fricative.

How would you describe /k/?

Voiceless velar stop.

How would you describe /g/?

Voiced velar stop.

How would you describe /ŋ/ ("ng")?

Voiced velar nasal.

Which sounds are commonly difficult for young children because they require precise tongue placement?

/θ/, /ð/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /r/, /l/.

Which manner of articulation requires complete closure of the vocal tract?

stops

Which manner of articulation requires continuous airflow?

fricatives

Which sounds require the velum to be lowered?

nasals

What are the six stop sounds?

/p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/.

What are the three nasal sounds?

/m/, /n/, /ŋ/.

What are the two liquid sounds?

/l/ and /r/.

What are the two glide sounds?

w/ and /j/.

What are the two affricates?

tʃ, dʒ (ch, j)

What three features describe every English consonant?

Place of articulation, manner of articulation, and voicing.

Which sounds are typically acquired earliest?

/m/, /b/, /p/, /n/, /h/, /w/.

Which sounds are typically acquired later?

/r/, /l/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /θ/, /ð/.

`What are the early-developing consonants?

/m/, /b/, /p/, /n/, /d/, /h/, /w/.

Name some middle-developing consonants.

/t/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /ŋ/ ("ng"), /j/ ("y").

What are late-developing speech sounds?

Sounds that typically take the longest to master.

Name the late-developing consonants.

/r/, /l/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /θ/, /ð/.

Which sounds are generally easier for young children: stops or fricatives?

stops

Which sounds are generally easier: bilabials or velars?

bilabials

What does "age appropriate" mean in speech development?

A child's speech matches what is expected for their developmental age.

What does "developmentally delayed" mean?

Speech sound skills are developing more slowly than expected for the child's age.

Why is chronological age important when evaluating speech?

Expectations depend on the child's age.

What is intelligibility?

How well a speaker is understood by others.

What is one of the SLP's first questions when hearing a speech error?

Is this error developmentally appropriate for the child's age?

Which sounds are generally acquired first?

Bilabials, nasals, and simple stops (e.g., /m/, /b/, /p/, /n/).

Which sounds are generally acquired last?

r/, /l/, "th" (/θ/, /ð/), and several fricatives/affricates.

Which sounds are often acquired by about age 3?

/m/, /b/, /p/, /h/, /n/, /w/.

Which sounds are often acquired by about age 4?

d/, /t/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /j/ ("y"), /ŋ/ ("ng").

Which sounds are often acquired by about age 5?

/s/, /z/, /v/, /l/, /tʃ/ ("ch"), /dʒ/ ("j").

Which sounds are commonly among the last acquired?

/r/, /ʃ/ ("sh"), /ʒ/ (the "s" in measure), /θ/ ("thin"), /ð/ ("this").

What is a phonological process?

A predictable pattern of speech errors that children use as they learn to speak.

Are phonological processes always abnormal?

No. Many are a normal part of speech development.

Why do children use phonological processes?

To simplify words that are difficult to produce.

When does a phonological process become a concern?

When it persists beyond the expected developmental age or significantly reduces intelligibility.

What is fronting?

Replacing sounds made in the back of the mouth with sounds made in the front.

Which sounds are commonly affected by fronting?

/k/, /g/, and sometimes /ŋ/.

Example of fronting

tootie for cookie, tat for cat

Is fronting typical?

yes, in younger children

Around what age is fronting typically eliminated?

by about 4 years

What is backing?

Replacing sounds made in the front of the mouth with sounds made farther back.

Example of backing

gog for dog

Is backing considered a typical developmental process?

No. It is generally considered atypical.

What is stopping?

Replacing a fricative or affricate with a stop consonant.

Example of stopping?

pish for fish

toap for soap

dis for this

tun for sun

Why do children use stopping?

Stops are easier to produce than fricatives and affricates.

Is stopping typical in young children?

yes for some sounds

What is final consonant deletion?

Omitting the final consonant in a word.

Example of final consonant deletion?

"ca" for cat

Why is final consonant deletion important?

It can significantly reduce intelligibility.

Around what age is final consonant deletion usually eliminated?

around 3 years

A child says "tat" for "cat." What phonological process is this?

fronting

A child says "do" for "dog." What phonological process is this?

final consonant deletion

A child says "tun" for "sun." What phonological process is this?

stopping

A child says "gog" for "dog." What phonological process is this?

backing

Why is stopping considered developmentally easier than producing fricatives?

Stops require a brief closure and release, while fricatives require continuous, controlled airflow.

Fronting means moving sounds in which direction?

From the back of the mouth to the front.

Backing means moving sounds in which direction?

From the front of the mouth to the back.