Articulation Development in Preschool Children

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the consistency of productions of /θ, r, l, s, ∫, t∫, f, t, k/ in releasing and arresting position for 2 ½- to 5-year-old children. The Coarticulation Assessment in Meaningful Language (Kenney & Prather, 1984) was given to 360 children, 60 at each of six age levels. A four-way multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures on the last two factors was used to test for main effects and interactions among age, sex, phoneme, and position. These children produced /θ, ∫, t∫, l, f/ with greater accuracy in the releasing position, but articulated /k, s, t/ at similar levels of accuracy in both positions. They produced /r/ with greater accuracy as a vocalic allophone. Further patterns and interactions are discussed.

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