The coronal fricative problem.
This paper examines a range of predicted versus attested error patterns involving coronal fricatives (e.g. [s, z, θ, ð]) as targets and repairs in the early sound systems of monolingual English-acquiring children. Typological results are reported from a cross-sectional study of 234 children with phonological delays (ages 3 years; 0 months to 7;9). Our analyses revealed different instantiations of a putative developmental conspiracy within and across children. Supplemental longitudinal evidence is also presented that replicates the cross-sectional results, offering further insight into the life-cycle of the conspiracy. Several of the observed typological anomalies are argued to follow from a modified version of Optimality Theory with Candidate Chains (McCarthy, 2007).
Indiana University.
Daniel A
DA
Dinnsen
Indiana University.
Michael C
MC
Dow
Indiana University.
Judith A
JA
Gierut
Indiana University.
Michele L
ML
Morrisette
University of Maryland.
Christopher R
CR
Green
Chain shift; Conspiracy; Error patterns; Opacity; Optimality Theory; Transparency; Typology