Phonological Variation in Child-Directed Speech

• DOI: 10.1353/lan.2005.0018
• Publication Date: 2007-01-09T05:33:05Z
• Authors: Paul Foulkes; Gerard J Docherty; Dominic Watt
• Keywords: Variation (astronomy); Indexicality; Sociolinguistics; Speech community

Segmental features of child-directed speech (CDS) were studied in a corpus drawn from thirtynine mothers living Tyneside, England. Focus was on the phonetic variants used for (t) word-medial and word-final prevocalic contexts since it is known that these display clear sociolinguistic patterning adult community. Variant usage CDS found to differ markedly interadult speech. Effects also with respect age gender children being addressed. Speech girls generally contained more standard than boys, which, by contrast, higher rates vernacular variants. The differentiation most apparent youngest children. findings are assessed comparison other studies CDS. It has previously been claimed modifications made register help learn linguistic structures social activity. Our suggest may play an additional role, providing boys as young 2;0 differential opportunities social-indexical values variables.