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Geminate template: A model for first Finnish words

University of Helsinki

The CV syllable or reduplicative word is seen as an essential structure in early speech development, and word-initial consonants are seen to be a part of the optimal syllable in the speech of young children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of the CV(CV) structure for a description of the first words of Joel (1;1—1;6), who is acquiring Finnish. Among his first 50 words, many words were produced with a (C)VC:V structure instead of a CVCV structure. An overused geminate template gives support for the saliency of the medial position. The saliency of the medial position is supported by the fact that word-initial consonant omission is common in the speech of Finnish children despite the word stress being on the first syllable. Additional support comes from the reduction of Finnish three-syllable words. Even though a reduced word usually consists of the first two syllables (SW1), a geminate structure may become part of the word regardless of its location in the word.

Key Words: Acquisition of Finnish • phonological acquisition • templates

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First Language, Vol. 27, No. 4, 347-359 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0142723707081728


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Savinainen-Makkonen, T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?