| Popis: |
A theory of phonological development must account for the development of all the characteristics of an adult phonology as specified by phonological theory, as well as the known facts of child phonology not covered by phonological theory. In addition, it should be consistent with a broader theory of language development, relatable to theories of other aspects of development, and empirically testable. Four major types of theories are examined, using examples from the Leopold diary and other sources: behaviorist theories of several kinds that emphasize the role of reinforcement; structuralist theories based on a universal hierarchy of phonological structure that determines the order of acquisition (Jakobson and others); the natural phonology theory, which assumes a universal, innate hierarchy of phonological processes (Stampe); and the prosodie theory, which emphasizes the importance of input to the child and the development of perception (Waterson). The theories are compared and are seen to be incompatible because of different goals and lack of data on questions of fact. Several major issues are identified for research and theoretical elaboration. |
