Consistency of consonant patterns by word position

Abstract

Children with phonological disorders form a large part of many clinical populations. A framework for characterization of disordered phonology based on changes in ‘system’ and ‘structure’ has previously been proposed. One aspect of both systemic and structural description of disordered speech is characterization of word-medial position. The goal of this study was to analyse the speech of 10 phonologically disordered children to determine the descriptive importance of medial consonant productions in characterizing their disorder. Results do not lend credence to the notion that word-medial position is characterized by initial and final position production patterns. Both significant and non-significant results of statistical comparisons and descriptive analyses support this perspective. In the consonant phonetic inventory, there were clear and significant differences across word positions in consonants in the inventory, with word-medial positions least complete. Analysis of consonants correct revealed significant differences in the level of correct use of consonants for only word initial position related to all three other positions studied. Process analysis results revealed no position-specific patterns of process use across positions.

Key Words:

• phonological disorders
• children
• medial position