Phonemic and pitch variability in bilingual preschoolers: A comparison of Jamaican Creole and English

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cross-linguistic influences of Jamaican Creole (JC) and English on phonemic and vocal development in bilingual JC-English-speaking preschoolers.

Method

Sixteen typically developing children (12 females, M = 4 years; 4 months) completed the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation in Phonology Word Inconsistency Assessment subtest in JC and in English. Acoustic measures of voice onset time (VOT), VOT variability (VOT SD), mean fundamental frequency (f_o), and f_o variability (f_o SD) were extracted from each target word. Prevoicing was noted. Mixed models and regression models were analysed to understand the patterns of acoustic measures in each language, and the relationship between phonemic and vocal variability, respectively.

Result

Analyses showed a significant effect of language on f_o SD, wherein SD was greater in English than JC. JC spoken (percentage) was a significant positive predictor of VOT SD for voiced (short lag) productions. There was no relationship between phonemic and vocal variability measures.

Conclusion

Greater f_o SD in English may be due to linguistic f_o differences and speaking environment. Variability for voiced VOT is likely due to the continued maturation of vocal and articulatory control when children are developing adult-like productions, though longitudinal studies are needed.

Keywords:

• acoustics
• bilingualism
• vocal variability
• phonemic variability
• VOT
• speech development

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Leslie E. Kokotek and other members of the Education Abroad Team to Jamaica for their efforts in data collection in Jamaica. We would like to acknowledge all school personnel who participated in the Jamaican Creole Language Project, preschoolers, and their families for their efforts and collaborations. Lastly, we thank Professors Laura and Richard Kretschmer and the Jamaican Language Unit for their ongoing support of our efforts.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission funding (A.S.M.); The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Advancing Academic-Research Careers (AARC) Award (V.S.M.); The Jamaican Creole Language Project Endowment Fund (K.N.W); National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders [R21 DC018170-01A1] (K.N.W).