Abstract
The classical literature on infant vocalizations as possible precursors to speech reveals seemingly irreconcilable theoretical views. Jakobson (1941), for example, contended that there was no important phonetic relationship between infant vocalizations and speech, while Lewis (1936) pointed to striking phonetic similarities in infant babbling and early speech. Both views were based, at least in part, on diary studies; yet Jakobson referred to early infant vocalizations as involving “wild” or “random” sounds, while Lewis noted patterns of vocalization indicating emergence of a capacity for speech.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Denes, P. and Pinson, E, (1963). The Speech Chain. Anchor Press, Garden City, New York.
Gay, T. (1978). Effect of speaking rate on vowel formant movements. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 63, 223–230.
Irwin, O.C. (1947). Infant speech: consonantal sounds according to place of articulation. J. Speech Hear. Disorders, 12, 397–401.
Irwin, O. C, and Chen, H.P. (1946). Development of speech during infancy: curve of differential percentage indices. J. Exp. Psychol., 36, 522–526.
Jakobson, R. (1941). Kindersprache, Aphasie, und allgemeine Lautgesetze. Almqvist and Wiksell, Uppsala.
Lewis, M.M. (1936). Infant Speech: A Study of the Beginnings of Language. Harcourt, Brace and World, New York.
Liberman, A.M., Delattre, P.C., Gerstman, L.J., and Cooper, F.S. (1956). Tempo of frequency change as a cue for distinguishing classes of speech sounds. J. Exp. Psychol., 52, 127–137.
Lieberman, P. (1980). On the development of vowel production in young children. In Child Phonology: Volume 1, Production, (eds. G.H. Yeni-Komshian, J.F. Kavanagh, and C.A. Ferguson). Acacemic Press, New York.
Kent, R.D. (1981). Articulatory-acoustic perspectives on speech development. In Language Behavior in Infancy and Early Childhood. (ed. R.E. Stark). Elsevier, New York.
Kent, R.D. (1984). Keynote address. Annual Child Phonology Conference, Purdue university, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Lindblom, B. (1972). Phonetics and the description of language. in Proceedings of the Seventh International Phonetics Conference. (eds. A. Rigault and R. Charbonneau). Mouton, The Hague.
Lynip, A.W. (1951). The use of magnetic devices in the collection and analysis of the preverbal utterances of an infant. Genet. Psychol. Monogr., 44, 221–262.
Mavilya, M.P. (1969). Spontaneous Vocalization and Babbling in Hearing impaired Infants. Doctoral Dissertation, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Mermelstein, P. (1975). Automatic segmentation of speech into syllabic units. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 58, 880–883.
Miller, J.L. and Baer, T. (1983). Some effects of speaking rate on the production of /b/ and /w/. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 73, 1751–1755.
Oiler, D.K. (1980). The emergence of the sounds of speech in infancy. In Child Phonology: Volume 1, Production, (eds. G.H. Yeni-Komshian, J.F. Kavanagh, and C.A. Ferguson), Academic Press, New York.
Oiler, D.K., Eilers, R.E., Bull, D.H., and Carney, A.E. (in press). Prespeech vocalizations of a deaf infant: a comparison with normal metaphonological development. J. Speech Hear. Res.
Oiler, D.K., Wieman, L.A., Doyle, W., and Ross, C. (1975). Infant babbling and speech. J. Child Lang., 3, 1–11.
Nakazima, S. (1962). The comparative study of the speech development of Japanese and American English in childhood. Studia Phonologica, 2, 27–39.
Sievers, E. (1893). Grundzüge der Phonetik. Breitkopf and Hartel, Leipzig.
Smith, B.L. and Oller, D.K. (1981). A comparative study of premeaningful vocalizations produced by normally developing and Down’s syndrome infants. J. Speech Hear. Disorders, 46, 46–51.
Zlatin-Laufer, M.A. (1976). Language acquisition: some acoustic and interactive aspects of infancy. Final Report, National Institute of Education Grant NE-G-00-3-0077.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1986 The Wenner-Gren Center
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Oiler, D.K. (1986). Metaphonology and Infant Vocalizations. In: Lindblom, B., Zetterström, R. (eds) Precursors of Early Speech. Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08023-6_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08023-6_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-08025-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-08023-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)