Comparision of time, space and whole word patterns in phonological processes of 2 to 7 year old typically developing Kannada speaking children

Abstract

Phonological processes can be grouped to with respect to timing, articulatory space and whole word patterns (Velleman, 2003.) No study has been conducted addressing the hierarchy of appearance or disappearance of these patterns in typically developing children in Indian languages. The aim of the study is to analyze and compare the time, space and whole word patterns in conversational speech of 2 to 7 years old Kannada speaking typically developing children. The present study included 50 typically developing children in the age range of 2 to 7 year, sub-grouped into 10 groups with 5 children in each group divided in 6 months range. Conversational speech sample was collected from each of the participant. 100 intelligible utterances were selected and transcribed using IPA by the first investigator. Mean percentage of occurrence of timing, space and whole word patterns were calculated. Statistically significant differences and a decreasing trend in the occurrence of total patterns with age were observed. Timing features stabilized first by 4 years of age followed by space and whole word patterns (which prevailed even after 7 years of age), which is in line with other reported studies which are based on kinematic analysis