Phonological substitution patterns in Yemeni Ibbi Arabic child speech: a markedness and natural phonology perspective

Abstract

This study investigates phonological substitution patterns in the early speech of children acquiring Yemeni Ibbi Arabic (YIA) as their first language. The research aims to identify the characteristics and motivations behind these substitutions, drawing on data from three monolingual Arabic-speaking children aged between 1;9 and 3;6. The analysis reveals common substitution processes, including fronting, backing, lateralization, fortition, emphasization, and de-emphasization. These patterns are examined in relation to the children’s stages of consonant acquisition, the Substitution Phonological Pattern (SPP) hypothesis, markedness theory, and natural phonology. The findings suggest that substitutions are influenced by the child’s current stage in the consonant acquisition timeline and reflect developmental challenges associated with mastering more complex sounds. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the SPP hypothesis, which highlights the children’s strategic adaptations to phonetic and articulatory challenges. Additionally, the results align with the concepts of markedness and natural phonology, demonstrating a preference for simpler, more common phonological elements over complex ones. The research contributes to the understanding of phonological acquisition in Arabic and offers insights into the interplay between universal tendencies and language-specific patterns in child language development.

Keywords

• Phonological substitution
• markedness
• natural phonology
• phonological acquisition
• Jeroen van de Weijer, College of International Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
• Introductory Linguistics