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Vocalic intrusions in consonant clusters in child-directed vs. adult-directed speech

Abstract:

In this paper, we investigate a prosodic-phonetic feature in child-directed speech within a dynamic, complex, interactive theoretical framework. We focus on vocalic intrusions, commonly occurring in Norwegian word initial consonant clusters. We analysed child-directed speech from nine Norwegian-speaking mothers to their children, aged 2;6, 4, and 6 years, and compared the incidence and duration of vocalic intrusions in initial consonant clusters in these data with those in adult-directed speech and child speech. When viewed overall, vocalic intrusion was found to be similar in incidence in child- and adult-directed speech. However, closer examination revealed differential behaviour in child-directed speech for certain conditions. Firstly, a difference emerged for one particular phonetic context: While vocalic intrusions in /Cr/ clusters are frequent in adult-directed speech, their presence is near-categorical in child-directed speech. Secondly, we found that the duration of vocalic intrusions was longer in child- than in adult-directed speech, but only when directed to 2;6-year-olds. We argue that vocalic intrusions in child-directed speech may have both a bonding as well as a didactic function, and that these may vary according to the age of the child being addressed.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.3389/fpsyg.2021.688002

Authors


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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-6762-5505
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Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0599-8925


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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/0302b4677
Grant:
SG122210
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Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/00epmv149


Publisher:
Frontiers Media
Journal:
Frontiers in Psychology More from this journal
Volume:
12
Article number:
688002
Publication date:
2021-07-19
Acceptance date:
2021-06-15
DOI:
EISSN:
1664-1078
Pmid:
34349704


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1190437
Local pid:
pubs:1190437
Deposit date:
2024-10-18

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