Language dominance does not always predict cross-linguistic interactions in bilingual speech production

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 847-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Amengual ◽  
Miquel Simonet

Abstract The present study describes the results of two experiments that analyze the effects of language dominance on Catalan/Spanish bilingual speech production. We examined the acoustics of the Catalan [a]~[ə] alternation (a phonological process induced by lexical stress) and of the Catalan mid vowel contrasts /e/-/ɛ/ and /o/-/ɔ/ (two phonemic contrasts) in the speech of Catalan- vs. Spanish-dominant early Catalan/Spanish bilinguals from Majorca (Spain). The results indicate that, contrary to the analysis of the Catalan mid vowels, stressed and unstressed Spanish and Catalan /a/ yielded no significant difference as a function of language dominance. These findings suggest that unstressed vowel reduction, a phonological process, may be relatively easier to acquire than phonemic contrasts with a low functional load (/e/-/ɛ/, /o/-/ɔ/), perhaps because its predictability and high frequency may attract attention and/or relieve cognitive resources, which could be conducive to phonological learning. These findings demonstrate that language dominance effects in the production of phonemic contrasts, widely researched in the literature on early bilingualism, do not guarantee the same effects on the implementation of phonological processes.

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Franklin ◽  
Lana McDaniel

Purpose The production of speech sound classes in adult language learners is affected by (a) interference between the native language and the target language and (b) speaker variables such as time speaking English. In this article, we demonstrate how phonological process analysis, an approach typically used in child speech, can be used to characterize adult target language phonological learning. Method Sentences produced by 2 adult Japanese English language learners were transcribed and coded for phoneme accuracy and analyzed according to the percent occurrence of phonological processes. The results were interpreted relative to a contrastive analysis between Japanese and English phonetic inventories and developmental norms for monolingual English children. Results In this pilot study, common consonant processes included vocalization, final consonant devoicing, and cluster reduction. These are processes commonly observed in the speech of children who are typically developing. Conclusions The process analysis can inform clinical approaches to pronunciation training in adult English language learners. For example, the cycles approach (Hodson & Paden, 1981) may provide more clinical efficacy than an articulatory approach in which phonemes are targeted individually. In addition, a process analysis can enable clinicians to examine the principles of within-class and across-class generalization in adult pronunciation instruction.


Author(s):  
Monica de la Fuente Iglesias ◽  
Susana Pérez Castillejo

Abstract This study investigates the phonetic implementation of Galician /ɛ-e/ and /ɔ-o/ as produced by Galician-Spanish early bilinguals. It examines whether there is variation that can be explained by differences in participants’ linguistic histories (as captured by their language dominance scores). Based on production data from one point in participants’ lives, the study uses regression to predict phonetic variation from participants’ language dominance at that point in life. Results reveal that, although participants produce a robust /ε/ vs /e/ contrast, the L1 specific category, /ε/ presented a more fronted position, more like /e/, as a function of lower dominance in Galician. However, this effect was not replicated for the back vowels. Given our results, we argue that differences in language dominance may trigger phonetic variation in bilingual speech production in some variables, but not others. This result is consistent with the current cognitive approach in bilingualism research claiming the plasticity of native phonetic domains throughout an individual’s lifespan. Results also align with recent claims that language dominance does not equally affect multiple phonological processes for the same individual.


1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail L. MacLean ◽  
Andrew Stuart ◽  
Robert Stenstrom

Differences in real ear sound pressure levels (SPLs) with three portable stereo system (PSS) earphones (supraaural [Sony Model MDR-44], semiaural [Sony Model MDR-A15L], and insert [Sony Model MDR-E225]) were investigated. Twelve adult men served as subjects. Frequency response, high frequency average (HFA) output, peak output, peak output frequency, and overall RMS output for each PSS earphone were obtained with a probe tube microphone system (Fonix 6500 Hearing Aid Test System). Results indicated a significant difference in mean RMS outputs with nonsignificant differences in mean HFA outputs, peak outputs, and peak output frequencies among PSS earphones. Differences in mean overall RMS outputs were attributed to differences in low-frequency effects that were observed among the frequency responses of the three PSS earphones. It is suggested that one cannot assume equivalent real ear SPLs, with equivalent inputs, among different styles of PSS earphones.


1992 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie May Watson ◽  
Julann Hiipakka

A group of 10 educable mentally impaired children ( M age = 10 yr., 4 mo.) were assessed for use of phonological process under three speaking conditions: production of single words, imitated sentences, and connected speech samples. Only the process of gliding showed significant differences in use among conditions. Results generally indicated that any of those three speaking conditions were viable for eliciting use of phonological processes by such subjects. Results are also discussed in terms of individual differences.


Author(s):  
Ariela Nachmani ◽  
Muhamed Masalha ◽  
Firas Kassem

Purpose This purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and types of phonological process errors in patients with velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) and the different types of palatal anomalies. Method A total of 808 nonsyndromic patients with VPD, who underwent follow-up at the Center for Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, from 2000 to 2016 were included. Patients were stratified into four age groups and five subphenotypes of palatal anomalies: cleft lip and palate (CLP), cleft palate (CP), submucous cleft palate (SMCP), occult submucous cleft palate (OSMCP), and non-CP. Phonological processes were compared among groups. Results The 808 patients ranged in age from 3 to 29 years, and 439 (54.3%) were male. Overall, 262/808 patients (32.4%) had phonological process errors; 80 (59.7%) ages 3–4 years, 98 (40, 0%) ages 4.1–6 years, 48 (24.7%) 6.1–9 years, and 36 (15.3%) 9.1–29 years. Devoicing was the most prevalent phonological process error, found in 97 patients (12%), followed by cluster reduction in 82 (10.1%), fronting in 66 (8.2%), stopping in 45 (5.6%), final consonant deletion in 43 (5.3%), backing in 30 (3.7%), and syllable deletion and onset deletion in 13 (1.6%) patients. No differences were found in devoicing errors between palatal anomalies, even with increasing age. Phonological processes were found in 61/138 (44.20%) with CP, 46/118 (38.1%) with SMCP, 61/188 (32.4%) with non-CP, 70/268 (26.1%) with OSMCP, and 25/96 (26.2%) with CLP. Phonological process errors were most frequent with CP and least with OSMCP ( p = .001). Conclusions Phonological process errors in nonsyndromic VPD patients remained relatively high in all age groups up to adulthood, regardless of the type of palatal anomaly. Our findings regarding the phonological skills of patients with palatal anomalies can help clarify the etiology of speech and sound disorders in VPD patients, and contribute to general phonetic and phonological studies.


QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahla Abd-ElAziz Rifaie ◽  
Dina Ahmed Elrefaie ◽  
Mona Mosaad Mahmoud

Abstract Background Speech sound disorder is a communication disorder in which children have persistent difficulty saying words or sounds correctly. It refers to any difficulty or combination of difficulties with perception, motor production, or phonological representation of speech sounds and speech segments. Aim of the Work to construct an Arabic auditory bombardment therapy program and measure its effectiveness in treatment of functional speech sound disorder. Subjects and Methods This study was applied on 60 participants divided into 2 groups (30 for each group) with age ranging from 3-5 years diagnosed with functional speech sound disorder with or without language disorders, attending at the Phoniatrics outpatient clinic in Ain Shams University Hospitals. The test for identification of phonological processes was applied on 60 patients with speech sound disorder selected to participate in this study. These were divided in to 2 groups (Group (1) received only the conventional therapy while group (2) received auditory bombardment in addition to the conventional therapy for 3 months) and the test was repeated again after therapy. Results Group (2) showed high significant difference (improvement) in consonant assimilation, voicing change, final consonant deletion, palatal fronting, gliding, lateralization and glottal replacement while group (1) showed high significant difference (improvement) in syllable deletion and partial cluster reduction. Conclusion The present study showed that application of auditory bombardment therapy program in addition to conventional therapy has high significant improvement than conventional therapy alone.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Veiga de Góes ◽  
Maria Dalva B. B. Méio ◽  
Rosane Reis de Mello ◽  
Denise Morsch

Objectives: to assess cognitive, motor, and language development in preterm infants, and perinatal, neonatal and socioeconomic factors associated with abnormal development. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 104 preterm infants (gestational ages < 33 weeks) (17 - 30 months corrected ages) using the Bayley III Scale. Logistic regression analysis was performed and prevalence ratios calculated. Results: the average language score (81.9) was low, while cognitive (93.7) and motor (91.1) scores were within normal values. There were deficiencies in receptive but not in expressive language. Male sex (OR 2.55 CI 1.01-6.44) and neonatal pneumonia (OR 33.85 CI 3.3-337.8) were associated with abnormal language scores. No factor was associated with abnormal cognitive scores; male gender indicated an increased risk of abnormal motor scores. The lack of a father was a risk factor for impaired motor development (PR: 2.96, CI: 5.6 - 1.55). There was no statistically significant difference in the development of small and appropriate for gestational age children. Conclusions: the Bayley III Scale was useful for assessing language and cognition separately, discriminating between receptive and expressive language. There was a high frequency of language deficiencies, especially in receptive language. Although motor and cognitive average scores were within the normal range, there was a high frequency of children with delayed development in these areas, especially motor development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 690-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Zajac

Posterior nasal fricatives (PNFs) are unusual articulations that occur in some children with and without cleft palate. The etiology of PNFs is unclear. A young girl with repaired cleft palate is described who exhibited inconsistent obligatory nasal turbulence during production of stops at 2 years of age. At 3 years of age, she exhibited various phonological processes and used PNFs to replace sibilants and affricates. Pressure-flow testing showed a relatively small velopharyngeal area during production of stops. These observations are consistent with obligatory nasal turbulence triggering the development of PNFs as an unusual phonological process, perhaps facilitated by reduced hearing.


CoDAS ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haydée Fiszbein Wertzner ◽  
Danira Tavares Francisco ◽  
Luciana de Oliveira Pagan-Neves

PURPOSE: To describe the tongue shape for /s/ and /∫/ sounds in three different groups of children with and without speech sound disorder. METHODS: The six participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 - two typically developing children, Group 2 - two children with speech sound disorder presenting any other phonological processes but not the ones involving the production of the /∫/ and Group 3 - two children with speech sound disorder presenting any phonological processes associated to the presence of the phonological process of palatal fronting (these two children produced /∫/ as /s/) aged between 5 and 8 years old, all speakers of Brazilian Portuguese. The data were the words /'∫avi/ (key) and /'sapu/ (frog). Tongue contour was individually traced for the five productions of each target word. RESULTS: The analysis of the tongue contour pointed to evidences that both /s/ and /∫/ were produced using distinct tongue contours for G1 and G2. The production of these two groups was more stable than G3. The tongue contour for /s/ and /∫/ from the children in G3 was similar, indicating that their production was undifferentiated. CONCLUSION: The use of the ultrasound applied to the speech analysis was effective to confirm the perceptual analysis of the sound made by the speech-language pathologist.


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