A Review of Perceptual Approaches to Language Rhythm

A critical review of recent perceptual approaches to language rhythm is presented, focusing on the question of vowel-sequence segmentation. Rhythmic classes are reappraised in relation to syllable structure and vocalic proportion, evidence from speech errors is reviewed and some problems in data collection are discussed. Infant acquisition of phonological preferences and Japanese children's segmentation strategies are discussed, and some ways of analyzing the putative effect of kana segmentation on children's rhythmic perception of vowel sequences are suggested