An analysis of the frame-content theory in babble of 9-month-old babies with cleft lip and palate

The aim of this study was to examine the consonant–vowel co-occurrence patterns predicted by the Frame-Content theory in 16 nine-month-old babies with unrepaired cleft palate (±cleft lip) and 16 age-matched non-cleft babies. Babble from these babies was phonetically transcribed and grouped according to the intrasyllabic predictions of the theory (labial–central, alveolar–front, and velar–back). Both groups demonstrated the three consonant–vowel co-occurrence patterns predicted by the Frame-Content theory. Other patterns not predicted by the Frame-Content theory emerged as strong patterns as well.Learning outcomes: The reader will be able to: • Describe consonant–vowel co-occurrence patterns produced by babies with and without cleft palate. • Describe vowel inventories of babies with cleft palate. • Identify possible therapy targets for babies with cleft palate.

► The babies with and without cleft palate produced the alveolar–front, labial–central, and velar–back co-occurrence patterns as predicted by the Frame-Content theory. ► Numerous syllable co-occurrence patterns not predicted by the F-C theory emerged as strong patterns in both populations. ► Vowel inventories for the non-cleft group were similar to those seen in the cleft group.