Acquisition of Sounds

Children must acquire sounds (vowels and consonants) in

a particular order

mostly universal

Which sounds are acquired first?

vowels (before consonants)

which vowels are acquired first?

• [i], [u], [o], [a]

• common across languages

which consonants are acquired at the beginning of words first?

[b], [d], [m], [n]

baba

dada

mama

nana

which consonants are acquired at the end of words first?

[p], [t], [k], [m]

speech gradually develops out of

babbling

for a time, speech and babbling

coexist

Which sounds do children use first in words

sounds they babbled first

What are the 3 manners of articulation

• obstruents

• sonorants

• liquids

Explain obstruents

first= stops

then fricatives and affricates

explain sonorants

• nasals= first

explain liquids

last manner to be acquired

what is the earliest place of articulation?

bilablia and alveloar (front consonants)

which place of articulation do children sometimes not have even at age 4

interdentals