The acquisition of Setswana segmental phonology in children aged 3.0–6.0 years: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

These findings are discussed in relation to normative data from other languages, in particular to those belonging to the same language group. Knowledge of Setswana development will help Speech-Language Pathologists working with Setswana-speaking children to identify and manage phonological difficulties in this population. The results contribute to an increasing body of locally relevant information on typical phonological development.

Speech Acquisition in Monolingual Children Acquiring isiZulu in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Building on this single case, Naidoo et al (2005) analysed phoneme acquisition, syllable structure and phonological processes in 18 isiZulu-speaking children aged between 3;0 and 6;2 using the children's naturalistic speech samples. Naidoo et al (2005) suggested that vowels develop before the age of 3;0 in isiZulu, similar to the Bantu languages of Kiswahili (described by Gangji, Pascoe & Smouse, 2015); Setswana (Mahura & Pascoe, 2016) and isiXhosa (Maphalala, Pascoe & Smouse, 2014). The isiZulu-speaking children between the ages of 3;0 and 4;0 had complete inventories of nasals, plosives and approximants.…”

“…In isiXhosa, Kiswahili and Setswana, nasals appear to develop before the age of 3;0 (Gangji et al, 2015;Mahura & Pascoe, 2016;Maphalala et al, 2014;Tuomi et al, 2001). In Setswana, the inventory of plosives and fricatives was complete by 3;6-3;11 (Mahura & Pascoe, 2016). For isiXhosa, these groups remained incomplete at 6;0, the oldest age group in Maphalala et al 's study (2014), while in Kiswahili only fricatives and trills remained to be acquired at 3;0 (Gangji et al, 2015).…”

“…These were then reviewed by expert panels to check for age and cultural appropriateness. Pilot studies took place, after which further refinements were made by generating cues to assist participants in producing the target word without modelling (Gangji et al, 2015;Mahura & Pascoe, 2016;Maphalala et al, 2014).…”

“…Most consonants are acquired before the age of 3;0 in isiXhosa (Maphalala et al, 2014;Mowrer & Burger, 1991;Tuomi, Gxhilishe & Matomela, 2001), Kiswahili (Gangji et al, 2015) and Setswana (Mahura & Pascoe, 2016); while in Sesotho most consonants are acquired before 2;0 (Demuth, 2007). In isiXhosa, Kiswahili and Setswana, nasals appear to develop before the age of 3;0 (Gangji et al, 2015;Mahura & Pascoe, 2016;Maphalala et al, 2014;Tuomi et al, 2001). In Setswana, the inventory of plosives and fricatives was complete by 3;6-3;11 (Mahura & Pascoe, 2016).…”

“…In isiXhosa, it has been shown that acquisition of vowels occurs early (Maphalala et al, 2014;Tuomi et al, 2001). Similarly, in Setswana and Kiswahili, children appear to have a complete vowel inventory by the age of 3;0 (Gangji et al, 2015;Mahura & Pascoe, 2016). Although studies looking at the acquisition of Sesotho have not been conclusive with regard to vowel acquisition, findings suggest that word-final vowels are often devoiced or omitted (Demuth, 2007).…”