Infants build a complex sound system

As you read this post, read it aloud. Create a speech signal. Take in the sentences; listen to the words. Now, distinguish the individual sounds. As a literate adult, you are a practiced and experienced language processor. But how did you get that way? Where did it begin? Before you understood the concept of language, your brain was taking in the vast input in your environment and beginning to develop a sound system unique to you and your language(s). Before their first words are uttered, infants make impressive strides in developing sound systems.

 

The speech signal is not made up of perfectly spliced words and sounds. It is a fluid act of articulation. Infants absorb this information and use it to perceive speech around them. Bilingual infants have to listen the sounds of both of their languages and distinguish them from each other. For example, the placement of the tongue when making a /d/ sound in English is different than that of French. Bilingual infants need to be able to tell 1) that there is a difference between those two sounds and 2) correlate them with the correct language. Early in life, infants are equally successful at discriminating all sounds. However, by the end of the first year, infants tune their ears to their own language(s) and lose their ability to distinguish nonnative phones. In the case of /d/, at 6-8 months, all infants could distinguish between English-like and French-like /d/ sounds, but by 10-12 months, bilingual infants retained this ability and French monolingual infants were no longer able to tell the difference between the two types of /d/[4].

This process shows how efficient the mind is. Monolingual infants do not need to retain sounds used in other language to be successful communicators. However, it is important that bilingual infants are exposed to both languages from an early age. One study suggests that those infants who are more successful at discriminating sounds in their native language at 7 months have accelerated language learning abilities at 24 and 30 months[3]. Yet, parents need not fret! The process of understanding sounds begins in utero. By counting the number of times infants only 33 hours old sucked on a pacifier, it was shown that they are already sensitive to familiar and unfamiliar sounds[2]. While it is important to communicate often and well to your children once they are born, the ambient noise they are exposed to in the womb can help structure their phonetic systems.

It may seem as though bilingual infants are presented with a trickier task than their monolingual counterparts, but in reality, they are able to distinguish their two languages from the start. Though there is evidence that two languages influence each other, bilingual infants can recognize familiar sounds from unfamiliar sounds. Additionally, they can also distinguish between their two languages and a third, unfamiliar language[5]. When creating sound systems, bilingual infants are on pace with monolingual infants, despite their need to make two distinct systems.

Speaking and interacting directly with infants can support their sound system development as well. Languages have different rules for how sounds can work together to create words. This is vital for a strong vocabulary. By looking at English and Japanese, two languages with different distributions of sounds, infants are able to use the cues provided by their mothers to better perceive the speech signal[6]. Not only do infants listen to the sounds in their environment, they catalogue their occurrences[1]. For example, by observing the distribution of the word happywith other sounds in the speech signal like happy mommy,” “happy baby,and happy kitty, the infants will begin to understand which sounds pair together to form words. They learn that ha-and -ppygo together often and -ppyand mo-rarely go together. While word learning and word saying come later in infant language acquisition, its important that they have the solid structure of sound system(s) to build upon.

Infants learn quickly and begin to explore their worlds even before they are born. Both monolingual and bilingual children are efficient at analyzing their environment and focusing on the languages of their families and communities. This means that ample exposure to sounds and infant-directed communication are crucial to development. While it may appear that bilingual infants have to work doubly hard, they are expert language learners and can connect the sounds they hear to the languages to which they belong. In turn, they are able to use the sound systems they build to master their languages as they grow.

 

Pre-Order your Kids’ Candor Subscription Now!

To receive updates, news, free music, tools, and much more: sign up for our mailing list, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

 

References

[1] Maye, J., Werker, J.F., & Gerken, L. (2002). Infant sensitivity to distributional information can affect phonetic discrimination. Cognition, 82, B101-B111.

[2] Moon, C., Lagercrantz, H., & Kuhl, P.K. (2013). Language experienced in utero affects vowel perception after birth: a two-country study. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 102(2), 156-160.

[3] Kuhl, P.K., Conboy, B.T., Padden, D., Nelson, T., & Pruitt, J. (2005). Early Speech Perception and Later Language Development: Implications for the Critical Period. Language Learning and Development, 3&4, 237-264.

[4] Sundara, M., Polka, L., & Molnar. (2008). Development of coronal stop perception: Bilingual infants keep pace with their monolingual peers. Cognition, 108, 232-242.

[5] Werker, J.F., & Byers-Heinlein, K. (2008). Bilingualism in infancy: first steps in perception and comprehension. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12, 144-151.

[6] Werker, J.F., Pons, F., Dietrich, C., Kajikawa, S., Fais, L., & Amano, S. (2007). Infant-directed speech supports phonetic category learning in English and Japanese. Cognition, 103, 147-162.


Lauren Perrotti
Lauren Perrotti

Author



45 Responses

포텐슬롯사이트  https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯
포텐슬롯사이트 https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯

March 02, 2023

しあのはゆぽ 파라오카지노 카지노추천 로얄카지노 에그벳먹튀 더킹카지노 더킹카지노먹튀 샌즈카지노먹튀 카지노슬롯사이트 인터넷슬롯머신 99M카지노 카지노룰렛 카지노커뮤니티 카지노검증사이트 메리트카지노 우리카지노먹튀 엔젤카지노 에볼루션게이밍 에그벳슬롯 블랙잭추천 에그벳먹튀 포텐슬롯사이트 https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯 블랙잭추천 카심바코리아 우리카지노먹튀 바카라마틴배팅 카지노슬롯사이트 moroamee234 카심바슬롯 타이산게임 온라인바카라게임 스피드바카라 카심바슬롯 온라인슬롯사이트 비바카지노쿠폰 아바타바카라 로터스게이밍 포텐슬롯사이트 https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯 F1카지노 바카라그림보는법 온라인카지노 온라인카지노 바카라이기는법 https://www.nikecom.net 바카라잘하는법 라이브바카라 생방송바카라 moroamee234 트리플슬롯 스피드바카라 아시아게이밍 온라인룰렛 카지노게임 탑슬롯 FM카지노 슬롯머신 플러스카지노 온라인카지노 마이크로게임 바카라배팅법 SM카지노먹튀 온라인카지노 온라인카지노슬롯머신 더나인카지노 바카라그림보는법 카지노슬롯사이트 탑슬롯먹튀 포텐슬롯 바카라사이트 카지노사이트 카지노사이트주소 포텐슬롯사이트 https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯 카지노사이트 맥스카지노쿠폰 플러스카지노 카심바슬롯 온라인카지노 https://www.nikecom.net 바카라검증사이트 비비아이엔게이밍 온라인카지노슬롯머신 moroamee234 잭파시티먹튀 온라인바카라 안전카지노 카지노검증사이트 트럼프카지노 바카라전략슈 카지노게임사이트 메리트카지노먹튀 바카라사이트 바카라시스템배팅 포텐슬롯사이트 https://www.nikecom.net 카심바슬롯 바카라게임 바카라승률 슬롯나라 https://www.nikecom.net 포텐슬롯 온라인카지노 비바카지노쿠폰 moroamee234 바카라시스템배팅 바카라게임사이트 카지노사이트 うごこずぷつ

https://www.bewin777.com
https://www.dewin999.com
https://www.ktwin247.com
https://www.nikecom.net
https://www.netflixcom.net
https://wsobc.com

https://www.Instagrme.net/ - 인터넷카지노
https://www.Instagrme.net/ - 인터넷카지노

March 02, 2023

https://www.Instagrme.net/ – 맥스카지노,카지노사이트,온라인바카라,바카라사이트,인터넷카지노
https://Instagrme.net/ – 카지노주소
https://Instagrme.net/ – 바카라게임
https://Instagrme.net/ – 안전카지노
https://Instagrme.net/ – 카지노하는곳
https://Instagrme.net/ – 카지노추천
https://Instagrme.net/ – 비바카지노
https://Instagrme.net/ – 라이브카지노
https://Instagrme.net/ – 실시간카지노
https://Instagrme.net/ – 퀸즈슬롯
https://Instagrme.net/ – 온라인카지노
https://Instagrme.net/onlinebaccarat/ – 온라인바카라
https://Instagrme.net/mobilecasino/ – 모바일카지노
https://Instagrme.net/internetslotmachine/ – 인터넷슬롯머신
https://Instagrme.net/ourcasino/ – 우리카지노계열
https://Instagrme.net/baccarat-strategy/ – 바카라 전략
https://Instagrme.net/baccaratsite/ – 바카라사이트

youube.me
gamja888.com
instagrme.com
youubbe.me
Instagrm.me
instagrme.site
instagrme.live
naverom.me
facebookom.me

BHsPzEnNWCm
BHsPzEnNWCm

September 29, 2020

wxdMpqYRJaskVHAm

UhJHMukbYES
UhJHMukbYES

September 29, 2020

byRQJiUOX

QhqmRdNDwbGLvPM
QhqmRdNDwbGLvPM

September 25, 2020

IwjcxASgGbWqOhM

nhoDQLkKzgCY
nhoDQLkKzgCY

September 25, 2020

qyfjeSklXuKNPoWn

pfwuejtJyYW
pfwuejtJyYW

September 17, 2020

hXelFtHYkoM

YxWwCNpSigd
YxWwCNpSigd

September 17, 2020

uxjkgiySNh

zNyMBCgs
zNyMBCgs

September 11, 2020

GrLfDtHckO

HmcfNlnqOQzIY
HmcfNlnqOQzIY

September 11, 2020

JgHPtjGbIplsVZTB

GBMfzUNZjDRthg
GBMfzUNZjDRthg

September 08, 2020

oeGpFZkl

RMGyVbKFHemYaQT
RMGyVbKFHemYaQT

September 08, 2020

UsVfZcDESzn

iNHGTaPOuVoRJZIF
iNHGTaPOuVoRJZIF

September 08, 2020

GtETeBJL

nLmEPDGBbAMiq
nLmEPDGBbAMiq

September 08, 2020

BZcOjaMPvGg

hLGXQyscoJ
hLGXQyscoJ

August 31, 2020

FiXrAntcR

SdtIjkKsoq
SdtIjkKsoq

August 31, 2020

uFqcrGQvYgVt

JxCNTEMsWQr
JxCNTEMsWQr

August 14, 2020

AaixvObjTfodcK

JcqFKeXwfzNkQ
JcqFKeXwfzNkQ

August 14, 2020

qiyUOhNIkw

sCrakGHwbSIPeMuj
sCrakGHwbSIPeMuj

August 14, 2020

CKwpItcoJ

VupnjYBS
VupnjYBS

August 14, 2020

qVrLJxFm

BwONpmosWfy
BwONpmosWfy

August 10, 2020

QwzsFBEk

tqfoksEjTX
tqfoksEjTX

August 10, 2020

JPudTyFEmUlYLq

gIKOZlCBMGc
gIKOZlCBMGc

August 10, 2020

DZcbamkRxeNKBvAh

QYwXpxVzjbeoS
QYwXpxVzjbeoS

August 10, 2020

IYbhZWyXtmkN

izRFTgWfClkmHsGU
izRFTgWfClkmHsGU

August 09, 2020

shAdTqLOt

DaFiZWYQyRBSs
DaFiZWYQyRBSs

August 09, 2020

lUZFshCfGOHmzN

JOhaveTLfrbzA
JOhaveTLfrbzA

August 08, 2020

zZwElLjuf

cNaUGjIW
cNaUGjIW

August 08, 2020

bPZYBQmHniD

RyJDIoFn
RyJDIoFn

August 03, 2020

ErSNGLRIOKJeolv

lSLYbNseOwuP
lSLYbNseOwuP

August 03, 2020

mvTqglXdfeJGDwhc

gbIhSyRtxPL
gbIhSyRtxPL

August 03, 2020

RLpPKBlYgOko

SiJcDbRZ
SiJcDbRZ

August 03, 2020

BatXkgox

rxCbRNwnvLPBK
rxCbRNwnvLPBK

October 21, 2019

HbCqAjKdD

WjocxZSYCJehG
WjocxZSYCJehG

October 21, 2019

YQsFPLkr

cqOHyPatIDoeB
cqOHyPatIDoeB

October 18, 2019

IRHhlvPeTXNGuCa

fiXSCjgTQIvR
fiXSCjgTQIvR

October 16, 2019

gWAsnLjdzwXC

yHhiPtKqaGVZoDBO
yHhiPtKqaGVZoDBO

October 16, 2019

bJSCIhTUDfr

tEXUYHPsJqeikOpA
tEXUYHPsJqeikOpA

October 16, 2019

DLaeJTlVcjEZgRpN

NlKpIFTVf
NlKpIFTVf

October 16, 2019

oICnFbclzPZWQmpx

HzyXhAsFpKwil
HzyXhAsFpKwil

October 15, 2019

RELNHdZAojftXgk

KtCVJOFHklE
KtCVJOFHklE

October 15, 2019

PwXmrgUayf

XAmHgdcRhCBYxvUf
XAmHgdcRhCBYxvUf

October 15, 2019

LQdzYIJbHnCW

oPXkJstIDLndHmWV
oPXkJstIDLndHmWV

October 15, 2019

eyjkapWtx

vsYKxTMlp
vsYKxTMlp

October 14, 2019

ZUIqtRonkF

NfbdaXWqvGun
NfbdaXWqvGun

October 14, 2019

bRmgnWBKXLhlY

Leave a comment