title: The acquisition of initial consonant clusters in German-speaking 2-year-olds.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore cluster acquisition in typically developing German-speaking 2-year-olds.
  
  
  
  Data from four cross-sectional studies (n = 145, aged 2;00-2;11) and one eight-month longitudinal study were analysed (n = 6, aged 2;01-2;04). Two different percentages of consonant clusters correct were calculated to allow a more detailed analysis.
  
  
  
  Findings showed that the majority of children produced clusters, although they could not be considered to be fully acquired. Correct production significantly correlated with age. Only /gl/ and /kl/ were shown to be phonetically and phonemically acquired (75% criterion) in the older age group. Three-element clusters were acquired at the same time as 2-element clusters and /∫/-clusters were acquired to the same or larger extent as non-/∫/ clusters when fronting/backing of /∫/ was accepted. Younger children produced more reductions than simplifications but this effect was less strong for the /∫/-clusters. Developmental realisation patterns varied depending on cluster type. Inter- and intra-individual developmental patterns could be observed which changed depending on the time of testing.
  
  
  
  Findings on cluster acquisition in 2-year-old German-speaking children revealed language-specific differences but also similarities in comparison with results from other languages. All but two children produced clusters. However, individual variation between children was high.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Communication Sciences, University of Sheffield , Sheffield , UK and.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0531-1348
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, EUAS Rostock , Rostock , Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox-Boyer
mesh_terms: D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male
keywords: 2-year-olds; German; consonant clusters; phonology; speech acquisition