- Email: [email protected]
Lexicon organization of the Russian child
International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455 – 460
Lexicon organization of the Russian child N.A. Ermakova * Laboratory of Physiology and Speech, ENT and Speech Research Institute, 5 Predportovy proezd, 10-2-147, St. Petersburg 196240, Russia
Abstract Background: Today, many experts from different areas of a science are interested in close study of children’s speech. The items of information on normative speech are especially useful with the purposes of diagnostics of various deviations in speech development. From those items of information, which are accessible at present, researchers try to analyze only acoustic characteristics, early vocalics, their rhythmic structures, etc. We consider that it is necessary to analyze process of formation of the primary dictionary taking into account the articulatory abilities of small children. Methods: The given research managed to be carried out due to video recording of speech behavior of the child that allows objective analysis to be achieved, not only audio material, but also video material of early development of Russian language. Results: We have studied early speech development in six healthy Russian children from 10 months till 2 years old. Video registration and the computer processing of a sound signal of the child has allowed to determine an exact arrangement of children’s reports relative to adult ones in dialogue. We have confirmed that it was impossible to receive those data by means of parent’s records of the child’s early speech that carried subjective character. In result of grading the data, we have received sound structure of the children’s statements depending on time of occurrence articulatory abilities. Conclusions: We consider that the data received are very important for all persons, who take part closely in speech development of the child. D 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. Keywords: Lexicon organization; Children utterances; Coarticulation vocal vowel; International System of the Alphabet (IPA)
1. Introduction Today, many experts from different areas of science are interested in a close study of children’s speech [1,2]. In this connection, the data of the literature describes the miscellaneous approaches to unified process of appearance of voice skills for the child * Tel.: +7-812-1222998; fax: +7-812-1222998. E-mail address: [email protected] (N.A. Ermakova). 0531-5131/ D 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/S0531-5131(03)01111-7
456
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
on the basis of accumulated sensory experience [3,4]. The organization and increase of the passive dictionary considerably leaves behind increase of the active dictionary. The first utterances of the child which parents are capable to interpret as intelligent occur at the age of about 8 months. The volume of the active dictionary typical for the given age is definitely connected to a volume of the passive dictionary [5]. Of those data that are accessible in the present time, researchers try to analyze only acoustic properties, early vocalizations, their rhythmic patterns or diary records of the parents, etc. We suppose that it is necessary to analyze process of formation of the primary dictionary taking into consideration formation of the dictionary on the basis of articulation abilities of small children recorded by video. The items of information on normative speech are especially useful with the purposes of diagnostics of different deviations in speech development. 2. Materials and methods The given research has become possible due to video record of voice behavior of the child and simultaneous writing down a parents questionnaire. Alternative registration audio and video materials has allowed elimination of subjective estimation of early development of Russian language and to determine precise arrangement of children’s utterances as regards to adult ones in dialogue. We have studied early speech development in six healthy Russian children from 7 months till 2 years and 4 months old. Samples of children speech were subjected to the acoustical analysis and 30 protocols with the phonetic description of children sound productions were made up. The total volume of the material was 14 h of sound. To improve the processing of the children’s expressions, the file system of access to sound signals was created. To each file the name of the child, number of an utterance and child age was assigned. During our activity as a matter of convenience of the analysis of audio materials, a list was produced including the tables of an International System of the Alphabet (IPA) [6]. On each file, the registered sounds were introduced as follows (Table 1). We have created six summary personal tables, which have registered a phonetic structure of the expressions on 10 age shears: 7, 8, 10 months, 1 year, 1 year and 3 months, 1 year and 5 months, 1 year and 7 months, 1 year and 11 months, 2 years and 1 month, 2 years and 4 months. The process of video recording was encompassed in registrations of sound utterances of the child, child’s mother and compiled of the texts of dialogue (Table 2). As an outcome, we have the detailed schemes of an articulation and coarticulation in the primary semantic loading expressions of the child. It is an articulation scheme that admits standard articulations. The acoustic analysis of a sound signal of the child was conducted with the help of computer program EDSw [7] (Figs. 1 and 2). 3. Results We have learned the early voice development of six healthy Russian children in videos from 7 months till 2 years and 4 months.
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
457
Table 1 Syllabic and phonetic list of the child Vlada K
Date of birth: 2.07.1997. Age at the time of examination (in months): 1.04.18. The sound file w31041835. Syllabic designs (articulation). C—consonant. V—vowel.
In the outcome of systematization of the data, we have described the sound pattern of the children’s expressions depending on age and place of formation of articulation capacities.
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N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
Table 2 V1041835 Situation
W11041835
W21041835
W31041835
W41041835
W51041835
Syllabic patterns which were included in children’s words and phonetic structure of these words undergo rather expressed changes in the age of about 16 –18 months, when the active dictionary includes approximately two tens of words. The comparison between the obtained data in all tables was conducted. We have confirmed the data that it is impossible to accept the items of information from adult about induced early child speech as they have a subjective nature. The appearance in the active dictionary of 15 and more words changes quality of syllabic patterns. Additional articulations occur in both vowel and consonant sounds. The child’s abilities to applicable coarticulations of these additional articulations also change. Appearance of clear solid and soft articulations plosive consonant sounds in one phonetic word, for example: «GHGH» (uncle) [’da’dia].
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
459
Fig. 1. W31041835.
The appearance of coarticulations in syllables with labialised both soft and solid plosive and fricative articulations, for example: «BOT» (here) [’vo], [jo], «upaIIU» (brother) ˇ [’bow], «UpohleHtII» (tiny) [’ko’o’ka]. When analyzing the process of gradual differentiation of sounds of speech, it is probably necessary to allow for phenomena coarticulations within the limits of syllabic patterns and their speed key inside a sound utterance. The more miscellaneous coarticulations become inside a syllable, especially composite thought manages to be stated to the child, for example: «BOT GHGH, BOT» (here an uncle, here) [’vo ’daidia ’vo], «a efe» (again) [’a’izo].
Fig. 2. W31041835.
460
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
4. Discussion The diagnostics of voice skills at such an early age should take into account the speed coarticulations and quality of consonant and vowel inside a syllable and sentence. We suppose that the obtained data are very important for all persons that take part closely in speech development of the child.
References [1] L.V. Bondarko, Phonetics of Modern Russian: The Manual, 1998, St. Petersburg. [2] H.V. Grudeva, Children’s speech: materials to the educational English – Russian dictionary on ontolinguislic, Tsherepovets, 1998. [3] R. Borwn, A First Language: The Early Stages, Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1973. [4] L. Bloom, Language development, Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, Singular Publishing Group, San Diego, CA, 1994. [5] L. Bloom, E. Tinker, C. Margulis, The words children learn: evidence against a noun bias in early vocabularies, Cognitive Development 1985, 8, 431 – 450; Children’s speech: the dictionary of the linguistic terms. St. Petersburg: ‘‘Formation’’, 1993. [6] ‘‘Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics’’ Journal 1994, IPA—The International Phonetic Alphabet, 1993. [7] Writer and speech interpretations programme ‘‘Edsw v 1.025’’/Talanov A. [email protected].
Lexicon organization of the Russian child N.A. Ermakova * Laboratory of Physiology and Speech, ENT and Speech Research Institute, 5 Predportovy proezd, 10-2-147, St. Petersburg 196240, Russia
Abstract Background: Today, many experts from different areas of a science are interested in close study of children’s speech. The items of information on normative speech are especially useful with the purposes of diagnostics of various deviations in speech development. From those items of information, which are accessible at present, researchers try to analyze only acoustic characteristics, early vocalics, their rhythmic structures, etc. We consider that it is necessary to analyze process of formation of the primary dictionary taking into account the articulatory abilities of small children. Methods: The given research managed to be carried out due to video recording of speech behavior of the child that allows objective analysis to be achieved, not only audio material, but also video material of early development of Russian language. Results: We have studied early speech development in six healthy Russian children from 10 months till 2 years old. Video registration and the computer processing of a sound signal of the child has allowed to determine an exact arrangement of children’s reports relative to adult ones in dialogue. We have confirmed that it was impossible to receive those data by means of parent’s records of the child’s early speech that carried subjective character. In result of grading the data, we have received sound structure of the children’s statements depending on time of occurrence articulatory abilities. Conclusions: We consider that the data received are very important for all persons, who take part closely in speech development of the child. D 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. Keywords: Lexicon organization; Children utterances; Coarticulation vocal vowel; International System of the Alphabet (IPA)
1. Introduction Today, many experts from different areas of science are interested in a close study of children’s speech [1,2]. In this connection, the data of the literature describes the miscellaneous approaches to unified process of appearance of voice skills for the child * Tel.: +7-812-1222998; fax: +7-812-1222998. E-mail address: [email protected] (N.A. Ermakova). 0531-5131/ D 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/S0531-5131(03)01111-7
456
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
on the basis of accumulated sensory experience [3,4]. The organization and increase of the passive dictionary considerably leaves behind increase of the active dictionary. The first utterances of the child which parents are capable to interpret as intelligent occur at the age of about 8 months. The volume of the active dictionary typical for the given age is definitely connected to a volume of the passive dictionary [5]. Of those data that are accessible in the present time, researchers try to analyze only acoustic properties, early vocalizations, their rhythmic patterns or diary records of the parents, etc. We suppose that it is necessary to analyze process of formation of the primary dictionary taking into consideration formation of the dictionary on the basis of articulation abilities of small children recorded by video. The items of information on normative speech are especially useful with the purposes of diagnostics of different deviations in speech development. 2. Materials and methods The given research has become possible due to video record of voice behavior of the child and simultaneous writing down a parents questionnaire. Alternative registration audio and video materials has allowed elimination of subjective estimation of early development of Russian language and to determine precise arrangement of children’s utterances as regards to adult ones in dialogue. We have studied early speech development in six healthy Russian children from 7 months till 2 years and 4 months old. Samples of children speech were subjected to the acoustical analysis and 30 protocols with the phonetic description of children sound productions were made up. The total volume of the material was 14 h of sound. To improve the processing of the children’s expressions, the file system of access to sound signals was created. To each file the name of the child, number of an utterance and child age was assigned. During our activity as a matter of convenience of the analysis of audio materials, a list was produced including the tables of an International System of the Alphabet (IPA) [6]. On each file, the registered sounds were introduced as follows (Table 1). We have created six summary personal tables, which have registered a phonetic structure of the expressions on 10 age shears: 7, 8, 10 months, 1 year, 1 year and 3 months, 1 year and 5 months, 1 year and 7 months, 1 year and 11 months, 2 years and 1 month, 2 years and 4 months. The process of video recording was encompassed in registrations of sound utterances of the child, child’s mother and compiled of the texts of dialogue (Table 2). As an outcome, we have the detailed schemes of an articulation and coarticulation in the primary semantic loading expressions of the child. It is an articulation scheme that admits standard articulations. The acoustic analysis of a sound signal of the child was conducted with the help of computer program EDSw [7] (Figs. 1 and 2). 3. Results We have learned the early voice development of six healthy Russian children in videos from 7 months till 2 years and 4 months.
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
457
Table 1 Syllabic and phonetic list of the child Vlada K
Date of birth: 2.07.1997. Age at the time of examination (in months): 1.04.18. The sound file w31041835. Syllabic designs (articulation). C—consonant. V—vowel.
In the outcome of systematization of the data, we have described the sound pattern of the children’s expressions depending on age and place of formation of articulation capacities.
458
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
Table 2 V1041835 Situation
W11041835
W21041835
W31041835
W41041835
W51041835
Syllabic patterns which were included in children’s words and phonetic structure of these words undergo rather expressed changes in the age of about 16 –18 months, when the active dictionary includes approximately two tens of words. The comparison between the obtained data in all tables was conducted. We have confirmed the data that it is impossible to accept the items of information from adult about induced early child speech as they have a subjective nature. The appearance in the active dictionary of 15 and more words changes quality of syllabic patterns. Additional articulations occur in both vowel and consonant sounds. The child’s abilities to applicable coarticulations of these additional articulations also change. Appearance of clear solid and soft articulations plosive consonant sounds in one phonetic word, for example: «GHGH» (uncle) [’da’dia].
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
459
Fig. 1. W31041835.
The appearance of coarticulations in syllables with labialised both soft and solid plosive and fricative articulations, for example: «BOT» (here) [’vo], [jo], «upaIIU» (brother) ˇ [’bow], «UpohleHtII» (tiny) [’ko’o’ka]. When analyzing the process of gradual differentiation of sounds of speech, it is probably necessary to allow for phenomena coarticulations within the limits of syllabic patterns and their speed key inside a sound utterance. The more miscellaneous coarticulations become inside a syllable, especially composite thought manages to be stated to the child, for example: «BOT GHGH, BOT» (here an uncle, here) [’vo ’daidia ’vo], «a efe» (again) [’a’izo].
Fig. 2. W31041835.
460
N.A. Ermakova / International Congress Series 1254 (2003) 455–460
4. Discussion The diagnostics of voice skills at such an early age should take into account the speed coarticulations and quality of consonant and vowel inside a syllable and sentence. We suppose that the obtained data are very important for all persons that take part closely in speech development of the child.
References [1] L.V. Bondarko, Phonetics of Modern Russian: The Manual, 1998, St. Petersburg. [2] H.V. Grudeva, Children’s speech: materials to the educational English – Russian dictionary on ontolinguislic, Tsherepovets, 1998. [3] R. Borwn, A First Language: The Early Stages, Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1973. [4] L. Bloom, Language development, Introduction to Communication Sciences and Disorders, Singular Publishing Group, San Diego, CA, 1994. [5] L. Bloom, E. Tinker, C. Margulis, The words children learn: evidence against a noun bias in early vocabularies, Cognitive Development 1985, 8, 431 – 450; Children’s speech: the dictionary of the linguistic terms. St. Petersburg: ‘‘Formation’’, 1993. [6] ‘‘Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics’’ Journal 1994, IPA—The International Phonetic Alphabet, 1993. [7] Writer and speech interpretations programme ‘‘Edsw v 1.025’’/Talanov A. [email protected].