Covert contrast in the speech of an adolescent with Apraxia of Speech : a case study

Churchill, Kimberley (2009) Covert contrast in the speech of an adolescent with Apraxia of Speech : a case study. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This is a case study of Marshall, a 15-year-old with Apraxia of Speech (AoS). AoS is an articulatory disorder affecting ability to program speech musculature. This thesis examines Marshall's production of the approximants /r, l, w, j/. In singleton onsets Marshall's /r/ sounds like /w/, ‘red’ [wεd]. For reasons outlined in the thesis, we expect Marshall to produce a contrast between /w/ and /r/ in singleton onsets, however, Marshall appears to produce both as [w]. This apparent lack of contrast prompted this investigation into the possibility of a “covert” contrast between /r/ and /w/ (a difference that is measurable but not perceivable to listeners). Marshall's approximants in singleton onsets were acoustically analysed. Statistical analysis revealed contrasts between all four approximants. Furthermore, acoustic correlates of /r/ and /w/ were statistically different indicating covert contrast. Verifying the existence of covert contrast in an individual with AoS may have implications on the diagnosis and treatment of such speech disorders.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
URI: http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/8640
Item ID: 8640
Additional Information: Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-65)
Department(s): Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of > Linguistics
Date: 2009
Date Type: Submission
Library of Congress Subject Heading: Apraxia; Grammar, Comparative and general--Phonology, Comparative; Speech

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