Acquisition of /s/-clusters in Spanish–English bilingual children with phonological disorders

Abstract

This study investigated the development of English two-member onset #sC clusters in Spanish–English bilingual children with phonological disorders. Data from 30 children were analysed in terms of correct and incorrect productions, implicational relationships, and possible groupings according to the sonority index of the second member of the cluster. While a great deal of variability occurred both within and across children, a number of general findings did occur. Sonority sequencing was found to be relevant in accurate renditions. Also justifiable was the binary grouping of /s/+[-continuant] vs /s/+[+continuant]. With regard to reduction patterns, the predictions of factorial typology were found to be useful.

Keywords:

• /s/-clusters
• Spanish–English bilinguals
• phonological disorders

Acknowledgements

We are grateful firstly to the children who participated in this study. We were extremely lucky to have the help of several individuals with the data collection. Special thanks to Teri Munoz and her staff, to the directors and staff of PATCHES and SPECS, and to Aimee Fernandez and Margarett Ferrer for their willingness and efforts. Our thanks also go to Dr Paulette Johnson of Florida International University for the statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1. For /sp-/, we have [θp] = 12, and [fp] = 3; for /sm-/, we have [θm] = 6, and [fm] = 4; and for /sw-/, we have [θw] = 7, [fw] = 6, and [ɸw] = 9.

2. The other sound cited for /sp-/ and /sm-/ reductions is [f].