The coronal fricative problem

This paper examines a range of predicted versus attested error patterns involving coronal fricatives (e.g. [s, z, θ, ð]) as targets and repairs in the early sound systems of monolingual English-acquiring children. Typological results are reported from a cross-sectional study of 234 children with phonological delays (ages 3 years; 0 months to 7; 9). Our analyses revealed different instantiations of a putative developmental conspiracy within and across children. Supplemental longitudinal evidence is also presented that replicates the cross-sectional results, offering further insight into the life-cycle of the conspiracy. Several of the observed typological anomalies are argued to follow from a modified version of Optimality Theory with Candidate Chains (McCarthy, 2007).

► We examined the sound systems of 234 young children with phonological delays.
► Not all predicted error patterns involving coronal fricatives were attested.
► Results revealed a conspiracy within and across these children.
► A version of Optimality Theory with Candidate Chains accounts for some anomalies.
► The life-cycle of the conspiracy is documented within this framework.