Temporal constraints on consonant clusters in child speech production

Abstract
The present investigation examines three hypotheses concerning the development of temporal coordination of consonant clusters in the speech of children at four age levels. Results of the investigation reveal that, within the context of the consonant clusters tested, five- and seven-year-olds can be roughly separated from older children and adults on the basis of absolute duration of consonants. The implication appears to be that the timing programme used by children to achieve cluster control is different from that of adults.