There have been a number of studies which
compared coarticulatory patterns in children and
adults, but these studies have produced conflicting
results, particularly with respect to anticipatory
lingual coarticulation. This study used articulatory
measures derived from ultrasound imaging, in order
to establish any differences between child and adult
coarticulatory patterns, and to quantify the degree of
variability in children's and adults' productions.
The participants were four adults and four
normally developing children aged 6 to 9 years, all
speakers of Standard Scottish English. The data were
the syllables /i/, /u/ and /a/, in the carrier phrase
It's a -_ Pam- (ten repetitions). Synchronised
ultrasound and acoustic data were recorded using the
Queen Margaret University ultrasound system. Extent
of consonantal coarticulation and within-speaker
variation in child and adult productions were
compared according to a new ultrasound-based
measure of coarticulation.
A significantly greater amount of anticipatory
lingual coarticulation was found in children than in
adults. Much within-group variability was observed,
in both age groups. Within-speaker variability was
significantly greater in children than in adults. These
results are in agreement with some previous studies.
Possible reasons are discussed for some of the
contradictions in the literature on child and adult
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