Phonological Processes

Study different phonological processes related to substitution, assimilation, and syllable structure

Backing

When alveolar sounds, like /t/ and /d/, are substituted with velar sounds like /k/ and /g/

“gog” for “dog”

Approx. age of elimination: usually seen in more severe phonological delays

(SUBSTITUTION)

Fronting

When velar or palatal sounds, like /k/, /g/, and /ʃ/, are substituted with alveolar sounds like /t/, /d/, and /s/

“tootie” for “cookie”

Approx. age of elimination: 3.5 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Gliding

When /r/ becomes a /w/, and /l/ becomes a /w/ or “y” sound

“wabbit” for “rabbit” or “yeyo” for “yello”

Approx. age of elimination: 6 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Stopping

When a fricative (like /f/ or /s/) or affricate (/tʃ/, /dʒ/) is substituted with a stop consonant like /p/ or /d/

“pan” for “fan” or “dump” for “jump”

Approx. age of elimination: /f/, /s/ by 3; /v/, /z/ by 3.5; /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /dʒ/ by 4.5; /θ/ by 5 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Vowelization

When the /l/ or “er” sounds are replaced with a vowel

“appo” for “apple” or “papuh” for “paper”

(SUBSTITUTION)

Affrication

When a non-affricate is replaced with an affricate (/tʃ/, /dʒ/)

“joor” for “door”

Approx. age of elimination: 3 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Deaffrication

When an affricate, like /tʃ/ or /dʒ/ ,is replaced with a fricative or stop like /ʃ/ or /d/

“ships” for “chips”

Approx. age of elimination: 4 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Alveolarization

When a non-alveolar sound is substituted with an alveolar sound

“tu” for “shoe”

Approx. age of elimination: 5 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Depalatalization

When a palatal sound is substituted with a non-palatal sound

“fit” for “fish”

Approx. age of elimination: 5 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Labialization

When a non-labial sound is replaced with a labial sound

“pie” for “tie”

Approx. age of elimination: 6 yrs

(SUBSTITUTION)

Assimilation

When a consonant sound starts to sound like another sound in the word

“bub” for “bus”

Approx. age of elimination: 3 yrs

(ASSIMILATION)

Denasalization

When a nasal consonant like /m/ or /n/ changes to a non-nasal consonant like /b/ or /d/

“doze” for “nose”

Approx. age of elimination: 2.5 yrs

(ASSIMILATION)

Final Consonant Devoicing

When a voiced consonant at the end of a word like /b/ or /d/ is substituted with a voiceless consonant like /p/ or /t/

“pick” for “pig”

Approx. age of elimination: 3 yrs

(ASSIMILATION)

Prevocalic Voicing

When a voiceless consonant in the beginning of a word like /k/ or /f/ is substituted with a voiced consonant like /g/ or /v/

“gomb” for “comb”

Approx. age of elimination: 6 yrs

(ASSIMILATION)

Coalescence

When two phonemes are substituted with a different phoneme that still has similar features

“foon” for “spoon”

(ASSIMILATION)

Reduplication

When a complete or incomplete syllable is repeated

“baba” for “bottle”

Approx. age of elimination: 3 yrs

(ASSIMILATION)

Cluster Reduction

When a consonant cluster is reduced to a single consonant

“pane” for “plane”

Approx. age of elimination: Gone by 4 yrs. without /s/, gone by 5 yrs. with /s/

(SYLLABLE STRUCTURE)

Final Consonant Deletion

When the final consonant in a word is left off

“toe” for “toad”

Approx. age of elimination: 3 yrs

(SYLLABLE STRUCTURE)

Initial Consonant Deletion

When the initial consonant in a word is left off

“unny” for “bunny”

Approx. age of elimination: usually seen in more severe phonological delays

(SYLLABLE STRUCTURE)

Weak Syllable Deletion

When the weak syllable in a word is deleted

“nana” for “banana”

Approx. age of elimination: 4 yrs

(SYLLABLE STRUCTURE)

Epenthesis

When a sound is added between two consonants, typically the “uh” sound

“bu-lue” for “blue”

Approx. age of elimination: 8 yrs

(SYLLABLE STRUCTURE)