Sound change: A phonemic split in a misarticulating child

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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to report a clinically induced phonemic split (i.e., the restructuring of allophones as distinct phonemes) by presenting longitudinal data from a functionally misarticulating child. For this child, three qualitatively and quantitatively distinct stages were observed relative to the acquisition of the phonemic split: 1. complementary distribution (allophones of the same phoneme); 2. position-specific free variation (intermediate to a phonemic split); and 3. phonemic distinction for some, but not all morphemes (phonemic split).The results of this clinical case study, documenting the nature and development of a phonemic split, have implications for related phenomena in normal language acquisition, second-language learning, and sound change in primary languages.

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