The Role of Phonological Processes in Language
What is phonological processing?
Phonological processing is a fundamental cognitive skill that underpins our ability to understand, produce, and interact with spoken and written language. While the term might sound complex, phonological processing refers to the brain's ability to recognise and manipulate sounds, or phonemes, the smallest units of speech. This skill is essential not only for speaking and listening but also for learning to read and write.
What Are Phonological Processes in children’s speech?
Phonological processes are patterns of sound errors that typically developing children use to simplify speech as they learn to talk. These processes are part of normal language development, but they usually decrease and disappear as children’s speech and language skills mature. However, if these patterns persist beyond the expected age, they may indicate a speech sound disorder.
Types of Phonological Processes:
Syllable Structure Processes
These processes affect the structure of a word:
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Final Consonant Deletion: Omitting the final consonant in a word.
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Example: cat → ca
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Typical until age 3.
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Cluster Reduction: Omitting one or more consonants in a cluster.
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Example: stop → top
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Typical until age 4-5.
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Weak Syllable Deletion: Omitting an unstressed syllable.
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Example: banana → nana
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Typical until age 4.
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Substitution Processes
These processes involve substituting one sound for another:
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Fronting: Replacing a sound made at the back of the mouth (e.g., /k, g/) with a sound made at the front (e.g., /t, d/).
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Example: cat → tat
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Typical until age 3.5.
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Stopping: Replacing a fricative or affricate (e.g., /f, v, j/) with a stop consonant (e.g., /p, b, t/).
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Example: fish → pish
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Typical until age 4-5, depending on the sound.
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Gliding: Replacing /r/ or /l/ with a glide sound, like /w/ or /j/.
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Example: rabbit → wabbit
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Typical until age 6-7.
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Assimilation Processes
These processes involve one sound becoming more like a nearby sound:
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Velar Assimilation: A non-velar sound is replaced with a velar sound (e.g., /k, g/).
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Example: dog → gog
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Typical until age 3.
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Nasal Assimilation: A non-nasal sound becomes a nasal sound (e.g., /m, n/).
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Example: candy → nanny
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Typical until age 3.
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When to seek help?
If a child continues using phonological processes beyond the expected age, or if their speech is difficult to understand, it may indicate a need for speech therapy. A speech pathologist can assess the child’s speech patterns and design a treatment plan to address specific errors.
Katie / Speech Pathologist (CPSP)