Two more processes in Danish dysphonology: backing and post-velar deletion

Abstract

Data are analysed from 17 Danish language impaired (LI) children who substitute alveolar with velar consonant, i.e. commit “backing”, and who delete the post-velar consonants /h/ and Id, i.e. commit “post-velar deletion”. Specific language impairment is found in 10 subjects, language delay with known aetiology in 7, but the two groups are indistinguishable with regard to their dysphonological symptoms. 5 subjects commit “backing” in co-occurrence with post-velar deletion, but this linking is not necessary developmentally as backing also occurs alone. These subjects divide articulatory space in accordance with distinctive features of Danish adult phonology. “Post-velar deletion” co-occurs with all other known Danish processes of dysphonology in 12 subjects. A developmental scale based on different realization patterns of the post-velar phones is proposed. The entire population of LI-subjects presents yet another scale of dysphonological processes and missing feature contrasts which may reflect Danish phonological developmental stages.