A CVCV model of consonant cluster acquisition : evidence from Greek
The aim of this thesis is to develop a model of the acquisition of consonant clusters within the phonological framework of CVCV theory. This is the first attempt to link CVCV to the area of language acquisition. It thus provides a new domain within which CVCV can be evaluated against other phonological theories. The core claim of CVCV is that syllable structure consists solely of onsets and nuclei, without any branching constituents. Consonant clusters are separated by empty nuclei, whose distribution is controlled by binary parameters. The model developed in this thesis is based on the assumption that a central part of the acquisition process is the gradual setting of these parameters to the appropriate value. The model, apart from covering familiar acquisition data, makes a number of predictions about the order of acquisition of consonant clusters. Of particular importance are predictions regarding word initial clusters of non-rising sonority, whose acquisition has attracted little attention. The predictions are tested against experimental data of cluster production by fifty-nine children acquiring Greek as their first language. The experimental results indicate that a CVCV model can account for consonant
Sanoudaki, Eirini
A CVCV model of consonant cluster acquisition : evidence from Greek. The aim of this thesis is to develop a model of the acquisition of consonant clusters within the phonological framework of CVCV theory. This is the first attempt to link CVCV to the area of language acquisition. It thus provides a new domain within which CVCV can be evaluated against other phonological theories. The core claim of CVCV is that syllable structure consists solely of onsets and nuclei, without any branching constituents. Consonant clusters are separated by empty nuclei, whose distribution is controlled by binary parameters. The model developed in this thesis is based on the assumption that a central part of the acquisition process is the gradual setting of these parameters to the appropriate value. The model, apart from covering familiar acquisition data, makes a number of predictions about the order of acquisition of consonant clusters. Of particular importance are predictions regarding word initial clusters of non-rising sonority, whose acquisition has attracted little attention. The predictions are tested against experimental data of cluster production by fifty-nine children acquiring Greek as their first language. The experimental results indicate that a CVCV model can account for consonant
model consonant_cluster acquisition evidence greek aim_develop model acquisition consonant_cluster within phonological framework theory first_attempt link area language_acquisition thus_provide new domain within evaluate phonological theory core claim syllable_structure consist solely nuclei without branch constituent consonant_cluster separate empty nucleus whose distribution control binary parameter model_develop base_assumption central_part acquisition_process gradual setting parameter appropriate value model apart cover familiar acquisition data make number prediction order acquisition consonant_cluster particular_importance prediction regard word_initial cluster non rising whose acquisition attract little_attention prediction test experimental_data cluster production fifty child acquire greek first_language experimental indicate model account consonant