Consonant aspiration in Mandarin-speaking children: a developmental perspective from perception and production.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This study investigates Mandarin-speaking children's acquisition of aspirated/unaspirated voiceless consonants in terms of perception and production, to track children's developmental profile and explore the factors that may affect their acquisition, as well as the possible association between perception and production.

Methods

Mandarin-speaking children (N = 95) aged 3-5 and adults (N = 20) participated in (1) a perception test designed based on the minimal pairs of unaspirated/aspirated consonants in the quiet and noisy conditions respectively; (2) a production test where participants produced the target words, with syllable-initial consonants focusing on aspiration and non-aspiration. Six pairs of unaspirated/aspirated consonants in Mandarin wer

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11776868 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature