The acquisition of Afrikaans phonemes in children aged 24-72 months

Abstract

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to describe the age of acquisition of the various Afrikaans phonemes according to the theoretical framework (75% correct production) in children aged 24-72 months. The sub-aim of the study was to determine if there is a difference in the ages of acquisition of phonemes between male and female participants per age group. After an extensive literature review, it was concluded that very little information is currently available regarding the acquisition of the phonemes of Afrikaans. Information that is currently available regarding the acquisition of Afrikaans phonemes was published over 40 years ago and did not include data on phoneme acquisition between the ages of 24 and 36 months or the acquisition of vowels. The possible differences in the age of acquisition between male and female speakers were not investigated either. Method: The study employed a prospective, quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive research design with comparative components. The study population consisted of 150 participants (30 participants per age group) for the age groups two to six years. All age groups had the same number of male and female participants (15 males and 15 females). All participants in the study presented with typical development, normal hearing and language development, and functional anatomical structure and physiological functions of the oral and facial structures. The phoneme production of the participants was assessed using two main assessment instruments, namely, the Afrikaanse Dieptetoets vir die Artikulasie van Foneme and the Afrikaanse Artikulasie Ondersoek. A vowel repetition task was lastly performed to obtain information regarding the production of Afrikaans vowels (monophthongs and diphthongs). Results and discussion: All Afrikaans vowels (monophthongs and diphthongs) are acquired by the age of two years. There were no statistically significant differences in the acquisition of vowels between males and females from the age of two years up to the age of six years. All Afrikaans plosive consonants, namely /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, and /g/, are acquired by the age of two years in Afrikaans. The two Afrikaans affricates, /ʧ/ and /dʒ/ are acquired by the age of three years. The four nasal consonants in Afrikaans namely /m/, /n/, /ɲ/ and /ŋ/ are also acquired by three years. The trill /r/ is the last consonant to be acquired and is acquired by the age of five years. All Afrikaans fricatives, /ɦ/, /f/, /v/, /s/, /ʃ/, /z/, and /x/, are acquired by the age of four years. The approximant, /j/, is acquired by the age of two years. The Afrikaans lateral consonant, /l/, is acquired by the age of three years. Females acquire consonants earlier than males, although not statistically significantly earlier. The p-value of the Fisher’s Exact test indicated that there are no statistically significant differences between males and females for any of the Afrikaans single consonants across all age groups. All consonant clusters in Afrikaans are acquired by the age of five years. A statistically significant difference between the males and females at the age of three years was noted for the acquisition of the /sp/ cluster. A statistically significant difference was also indicated between males and females by the age of four years for the /sk/ and /sl/ clusters. There are no statistically significant differences for any other consonant cluster across all age groups.

Conclusion: Results indicated that all the phonemes of Afrikaans have been acquired by the age of five years. In general, females seem to acquire Afrikaans consonants and consonant clusters earlier than males while no differences were noted in the acquisition of vowels. The results of the current study provide Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) in South Africa with recent and relevant normative data regarding the ages of acquisition of Afrikaans phonemes. SLTs can use the results of the study as a guideline for the assessment and diagnosis as well as for the selection of intervention goals and targets for Afrikaans children with speech sound disorders and difficulties with phoneme development. The current study serves as a foundation for future research regarding the acquisition of Afrikaans phonemes.

Keywords: Acquisition, Afrikaans, consonants, consonant clusters, phonemes, vowels.