A hallmark of early phonological development is the presence of both inter- and intra-word variability,phenomena that traditional linguistic theories often have difficulty accounting for. Recent evidence suggeststhatobserved variability may be systematically influenced by lexical development. The overall objective ofthis project is to investigate lexical-phonological interactions in development. Specifically, the lexicalcharacteristics of word frequency (WF), neighborhood density (ND), and age-of-acquisition (ADA) will bestudied in relation to the accuracy and variability of single word productions by typically developing toddlers.The project will consist of a longitudinal transcription-based investigation (19-29 months) of productionaccuracy and variability in relation to the variables of WF, ND, and ADA. The theoretical framework adoptedis that of Usage-based phonology (Bybee, 2001), which emphasizes the role of language use in theconstruction of a phonological system. The results of this study will enhance our understanding of lexical-phonological interactions in typical development, which may in turn help us to better understand the natureof phonological deficits and will inform our decisions regarding appropriate treatment methods and targets.
| Sosa, Anna V; Stoel-Gammon, Carol (2012) Lexical and phonological effects in early word production. J Speech Lang Hear Res 55:596-608 |
