title: Correlations between vocabulary and phonological acquisition: number of words produced versus acquired consonants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify the probable correlations between the number of word types and the number of consonants in the general phonological system in children with typical language development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were 186 children aged one year and six months to five years, 11 months and 29 days who were monolingual Brazilian Portuguese speakers with typical language development. Data collection involved speech, language and hearing assessments and spontaneous speech recordings. Phonology was assessed with regard to the number of acquired consonants in the general phonological system, in each syllable structure and in Implicational Model of Feature Complexity (IMFC) levels. Vocabulary was assessed with regard to number of word types produced. These data were compared across age groups. After that, correlations between the word types produced and the variables established for the phonological system were analyzed. The significance level adopted was 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All phonological aspects evaluated presented gradual growth. Word types produced showed a similar behavior, though with a small regression at the age of five years. Different positive correlations occurred between the spoken word types and the variables analyzed in the phonological system. Only one negative correlation occurred with respect to the production of complex onset in the last age group analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phonology and vocabulary of the study participants present similar behaviors. There are many positive correlations between the word types produced and the different aspects of phonology, except regarding complex onset.
authors: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM - Santa Maria (RS), Brasil.
authors: Fernanda Marafiga
authors: FM
authors: Wiethan
authors: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM - Santa Maria (RS), Brasil.
authors: Helena Bolli
authors: HB
authors: Mota
authors: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria - UFSM - Santa Maria (RS), Brasil.
authors: Anaelena Bragança de
authors: AB
authors: Moraes
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D007807:Language Tests; D010700:Phonetics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D014825:Vocabulary