Rights Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License Cantonese phonological development: A nonlinear account

This study described Cantonese phonological development according to a nonlinear account. Eight children, (two at each age point of 1;7, 2;6, 3;5, and 4;2) named 95 pictures. The data was analysed for word, syllable, onset-rime, skeletal, and segmental tiers. A model of feature geometry was adopted to analyse the acquisition of features. The results suggested a developmental order in the acquisition of hierarchical features. Decreasing order of accuracy of the tiers was word = syllable> onset-rime = skeletal> segmental. An interesting finding was the developmental progression in the addition of laryngeal features to place contrasts. Although a developmental sequence clearly emerged, there was inter-subject variability. Variability was predicted by the tier autonomy assumption. The unique features of Cantonese were reflected in the high accuracy of onset-rime and skeletal tiers in all ages except the youngest, where the skeletal tier was reduced due to omissions of final consonants. Cantonese phonological development 2 Cantonese phonological development: A nonlinear account There are two major approaches in phonology: linear and nonlinear. Linear phonolog