LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:12 December 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Phonological Processes in Kannada Speaking Identical Twins

Shilpashri, H. N., Ph.D.
Pooja, V., Student, B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing)
Krupanidi, P., Student, B.Sc. (Speech and Hearing)

Abstract

Children make predictable pronunciation errors during normal speech development. These 'errors' are called phonological processes. This study investigated the various phonological processes occurring in Kannada speaking monozygotic twins (identical twins). Two pairs of monozygotic twins (all were females) with the age of 3 years participated in this study. The Kannada Articulation Test (Babu, Ratna, & Bettagiri, 1972) was selected as test material for this study. Word repetition task was used to elicit responses from the subjects. The analysis of speech samples revealed the presence of six various phonological processes. It was found that five phonological processes were common in both the twin pairs. The findings highlighted the influence of genetics and environmental factors that contribute to the similarity between co-twins. However, further research is warranted for substantiation.

Key words: Phonological processes, Monozygotic twins, Kannada.

Introduction

The concept of phonological processes was introduced by Stampe (1973) to explain systematic sound changes made by children in producing adult words. As each child matures, these process errors are suppressed or eliminated until the child's phonological system matches that of the adult model. But if they persist, in children they can be a sign of a phonological disorder. So and Dodd (1995) reported that, the ages by which the child discontinues the use of phonological processes vary by languages.

Twin studies are the most common type of study used to investigate the impact of genetic factors on language. There are two types of twins, monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. Dizygotic twins result from two different fertilized eggs. Monozygotic twins, also called identical twins, are the result of a single fertilized egg splitting into two individual cells and developing into two individuals. MZ twins share 100% of their alleles and, on average, DZ twins share only 50% of alleles. Therefore, if MZ twin pairs’ linguistic abilities are more similar than DZ twin pairs’ (Stromswold, 2006).

Plomin and Kosslyn (2001) reported that, .MZ twins show very high levels of similarity in the brain structures which assist speech and language input and output processing. Monozygotic (MZ) twins share both articulation and misarticulation patterns (Matheny & Bruggemann, 1973; Locke & Mather, 1989). The studies on phonological acquisition in twins have suggested that monozygotic twins are more similar than dizygotic twins (Lewis and Thompson, 1992).

The similarity between twins on any particular trait is reported to be due to genetic influences and any environmental influences that contribute to the similarity between co-twins (Kovas, et al. 2005). Stromswold (2001) analysed various aspect of language from 100 twin studies. Results reveal that for both language-impaired and normal twins, genetic factors play a greater role for phonological and syntactic abilities than for lexical abilities.

Kovas, et al. (2005) studied genetic and environmental etiologies for articulation, phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal memory in 787 pairs of 4½ year-old same-sex and opposite-sex twins. Result revealed that moderate genetic influence was found for all aspects of language. Environmental influence was mainly due to non-shared factors. Genetic and environmental influences on language ability and disability were found to be quantitatively and qualitatively similar for males and females.

Reports from the literature highlight the impact of genetic and learning environment on development of speech and language skills based on twin studies. It is also reported that, monozygotic twin pairs’ linguistic abilities are more similar than dizygotic twin pairs. Hence, this study is an attempt to understand the phonological processes pattern in monozygotic twins (identical twins).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Shilpashri H. N.
Lecturer
JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570025
Karnataka
India
shilpashrihn@gmail.com

Pooja, V., Student, B.Sc (Speech and Hearing)
JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570025
Karnataka
India
poojavprinces@gmail.com

Krupanidhi, P., Student, B.Sc (Speech and Hearing)
JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing
Mysore 570025
Karnataka
India
krupanidhi018@gmail.com

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