How our sound system works
There are two different kinds of sounds in our speech, consonant speech sounds and vowel speech sounds.
Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
But... in actual speech, we use more than just the 21 consonants to talk.
Some of our consonants even combine to make other sounds. It can all be very confusing!
To simplify it all, let's look at how we can describe them
Consonants: b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z
Vowels: a, e, i, o, u
But... in actual speech, we use more than just the 21 consonants to talk.
Some of our consonants even combine to make other sounds. It can all be very confusing!
To simplify it all, let's look at how we can describe them
- how they are made (which is how I list them here on the website, see above lists) or
- when they develop
how they are made
stops: sounds produced by complete stoppage of the breath stream
in the vocal tract with a buildup of air pressure behind the point of obstruction,
sometimes with a sudden release of air causing an explosive sound
Comprising of the phonemes:
/p/ as in pig
/b/ as in big
/t/ as in tin
/d/ as in dine
/k/ as in kid
/g/ as in go
fricatives: sounds produced with partial blockage of the breath stream
forcing the airstream through a narrow channel with considerable
intra-oral breath pressure causing turbulence
Comprising of the phonemes:
/f/ as in fan
/v/ as in van
/th/ (voiced & voiceless- more on that later) as in thumb and them
/h/ as in him
/s/ as in sit
/z/ as in zoo
/sh/ as in shoe
/zh/ as in measure
affricates: sounds that begin as a stop and end as a fricative
Comprising of the phonemes:
/ch/ as in chew
/dz/ as in just
nasals: sounds produced with a closed oral cavity and open nasal cavity
through which the airstream passes resulting in nasal resonance
Comprising of the phonemes:
/m/ as in man
/n/ as in nap
/ng/ as in sing
glides: sounds produced with a continued motion of the articulators
providing a rapid transition to or from a vowel
Comprising of the phonemes:
/j/ as in yes
/w/ as in we
liquids: consonants that are produced with no friction
Comprising of the phonemes:
/l/ as in low
/r/ as in row
in the vocal tract with a buildup of air pressure behind the point of obstruction,
sometimes with a sudden release of air causing an explosive sound
Comprising of the phonemes:
/p/ as in pig
/b/ as in big
/t/ as in tin
/d/ as in dine
/k/ as in kid
/g/ as in go
fricatives: sounds produced with partial blockage of the breath stream
forcing the airstream through a narrow channel with considerable
intra-oral breath pressure causing turbulence
Comprising of the phonemes:
/f/ as in fan
/v/ as in van
/th/ (voiced & voiceless- more on that later) as in thumb and them
/h/ as in him
/s/ as in sit
/z/ as in zoo
/sh/ as in shoe
/zh/ as in measure
affricates: sounds that begin as a stop and end as a fricative
Comprising of the phonemes:
/ch/ as in chew
/dz/ as in just
nasals: sounds produced with a closed oral cavity and open nasal cavity
through which the airstream passes resulting in nasal resonance
Comprising of the phonemes:
/m/ as in man
/n/ as in nap
/ng/ as in sing
glides: sounds produced with a continued motion of the articulators
providing a rapid transition to or from a vowel
Comprising of the phonemes:
/j/ as in yes
/w/ as in we
liquids: consonants that are produced with no friction
Comprising of the phonemes:
/l/ as in low
/r/ as in row
Gordon-Brannan, M & Weiss, E. Clinical Management of Articulatory and Phonologic Disorders-Third Edition, 2007
when they develop
The "Early, Middle, Late Eight" classification system is based on the work by Shriberg (1993).
Early Eight: /m/, /b/, /j/, /n/, /w/, /d/, /p/, /h/
Approximately 1-3 years old
Middle Eight: /t/, /ng/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /v/, /ch/, /dz/
Approximately 3-6.5 years old
Late Eight: /sh/, /th/, /s/, /z/, /l/, /zh/
Approximately 5-7.5 years old
(refer to above for examples of these phonemes in words)
Early Eight: /m/, /b/, /j/, /n/, /w/, /d/, /p/, /h/
Approximately 1-3 years old
Middle Eight: /t/, /ng/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /v/, /ch/, /dz/
Approximately 3-6.5 years old
Late Eight: /sh/, /th/, /s/, /z/, /l/, /zh/
Approximately 5-7.5 years old
(refer to above for examples of these phonemes in words)
when is something "wrong"?
Just because a child has errors in his/her speech, does not automatically mean that something is wrong.
Typically, children develop sounds at the ages listed above, but these are only approximates. Some children develop these sounds in this order, but not at the listed ages. Other children develop these sounds out of order, and can be just fine, too. Other times, errors in speech are of a concern.
The most important thing to remember is to contact a Speech-Language Pathologist if you have questions or concerns!
They can and should be able to answer any questions you may have regarding whether a sound is developmentally appropriate or not.
Typically, children develop sounds at the ages listed above, but these are only approximates. Some children develop these sounds in this order, but not at the listed ages. Other children develop these sounds out of order, and can be just fine, too. Other times, errors in speech are of a concern.
The most important thing to remember is to contact a Speech-Language Pathologist if you have questions or concerns!
They can and should be able to answer any questions you may have regarding whether a sound is developmentally appropriate or not.