Developmental Pathway of the Three-Way Contrasts of Word-Initial Stops in Young Korean-Acquiring Children

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Title: Developmental Pathway of the Three-Way Contrasts of Word-Initial Stops in Young Korean-Acquiring Children
Language: English
Authors: Tae-Jin Yoon, Jiyoon Kwon, Jungmin So, Seunghee Ha (ORCID 0000-0003-2133-3720)
Source: First Language. 2026 46(1):147-171.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Toddlers, Adults, Language Acquisition, Phonetics, Phonetic Analysis, Age Differences, Korean, Auditory Discrimination, Individual Development
Geographic Terms: South Korea
DOI: 10.1177/01427237251357670
ISSN: 0142-7237
1740-2344
Abstract: This study investigates the developmental pathway of the three-way contrasts of word-initial stops in Korean-acquiring children aged 18 to 29 months compared to adults. It identifies acoustic-phonetic parameters, such as voice onset time (VOT), fundamental frequency (F0), and amplitude difference between the first and second harmonics (H1-H2), essential for differentiating these stops. Thirty-five Korean monolingual children (ages 1;6 to 2;6) and 10 Korean adults participated. Linear mixed-effects models analyzed the influence of age group and stop phonation type on these acoustic parameters. Results indicated that phonation type significantly affects VOT and F0, with aspirated stops showing the highest VOT and lenis stops the highest F0. Linear Discriminant Analysis demonstrated that while children effectively distinguished fortis stops, they had difficulty accurately classifying aspirated and lenis stops, indicating overlap in acoustic features. Adult comparisons showed lower F0 and higher H1-H2 values, particularly for lenis phonation. The interaction between age and phonation type was significant for both F0 and H1-H2, with children showing increased sensitivity to aspirated phonation. These findings suggest that young Korean children are beginning to utilize temporal features like VOT for phonation type differentiation, while their control over spectral features remains under development.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1496507
Database: ERIC
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Developmental Pathway of the Three-Way Contrasts of Word-Initial Stops in Young Korean-Acquiring Children
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tae-Jin+Yoon%22">Tae-Jin Yoon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiyoon+Kwon%22">Jiyoon Kwon</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jungmin+So%22">Jungmin So</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seunghee+Ha%22">Seunghee Ha</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-3720">0000-0003-2133-3720</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22First+Language%22"><i>First Language</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(1):147-171.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: 25
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Toddlers%22">Toddlers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phonetics%22">Phonetics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phonetic+Analysis%22">Phonetic Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Korean%22">Korean</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Auditory+Discrimination%22">Auditory Discrimination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Individual+Development%22">Individual Development</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/01427237251357670
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  Data: 0142-7237<br />1740-2344
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates the developmental pathway of the three-way contrasts of word-initial stops in Korean-acquiring children aged 18 to 29 months compared to adults. It identifies acoustic-phonetic parameters, such as voice onset time (VOT), fundamental frequency (F0), and amplitude difference between the first and second harmonics (H1-H2), essential for differentiating these stops. Thirty-five Korean monolingual children (ages 1;6 to 2;6) and 10 Korean adults participated. Linear mixed-effects models analyzed the influence of age group and stop phonation type on these acoustic parameters. Results indicated that phonation type significantly affects VOT and F0, with aspirated stops showing the highest VOT and lenis stops the highest F0. Linear Discriminant Analysis demonstrated that while children effectively distinguished fortis stops, they had difficulty accurately classifying aspirated and lenis stops, indicating overlap in acoustic features. Adult comparisons showed lower F0 and higher H1-H2 values, particularly for lenis phonation. The interaction between age and phonation type was significant for both F0 and H1-H2, with children showing increased sensitivity to aspirated phonation. These findings suggest that young Korean children are beginning to utilize temporal features like VOT for phonation type differentiation, while their control over spectral features remains under development.
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1177/01427237251357670
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      – SubjectFull: Language Acquisition
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