PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN CHILDREN WITH LANGUAGE DISORDERS

Abstract

The study investigates the phonological processes of language-impaired children between
the ages of 5 and 15. They were drawn from different special schools within Akwa Ibom State. They were purposively selected to examine the severity of the disorder for possible therapy and remediation. The study focused on the phonological processes of fricative stopping and velar fronting. Data were collected using a phonological diagnostic screening scale (PDSS) and a picture Naming task (PNT) for participants to identify and read. The theory of the Generative phonology approach was employed. Duration, voice onset time (VOT), intensity, and formant were analyzed using Praat software. For velar fronting, it was established that 60% of the female children under study realised /t/ for /g/ while 40% realised /k/ for /g/; that is, there was no female respondent who appropriately articulated /g/ as /g/ in /gɜ:l/ and /geit/. In contrast, 40% of the male respondents
realised /t/ and /k/ as a substitute for /g/ while only 20% of male children under study correctly realised /g/ as /g/ in /gɜ:l/ and /geit/. It implied that the children with language disorders under investigation have problems articulating /g/ as /g/ at the word-initial boundary. From the result, the study confirms the findings in the studies that stops were used primarily as substitutions for word-initial fricatives and affricates. The study recommends that other areas of linguistic analysis in children with language disorders be investigated for early remediation.