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Developmental Neurophysiology and Phonological Acquisition Order

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 March 2026

Peter H. Salus  and
Mary W. Salus
Peter H. Salus
Affiliation:
Scarborough College, University of Toronto
Mary W. Salus
Affiliation:
Stothers Child Care Centre, Toronto
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Abstract

Reports of developing phonologies agree that the fricatives are generally acquired later than stops, and the hierarchy of distinctive features places [+ strident] at the foot of the list on the basis of linguistic evidence. Neurophysiological evidence seems to indicate that the differentiation of [+ strident] consonants is a function of degree of myelination of the auditory nerve and the cortical bodies with which it is connected. Evidence from pathological cases supports the hypothesis that differentiation of high frequencies is impaired in cases of demyelinating disease. It is concluded that the fricative consonants are acquired last because they are auditorily discriminated last by the developing child.

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Type
Research Article
Information
Language , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , March 1974 , pp. 151 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © 1974 Linguistic Society of America

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