2007/05/02

Burnham, D. K. (1986). Developmental loss of speech perception: Exposure to and experience with a first language. Applied Psycholinguistics, 7, 207–240.

Presentation: Renee
Summary: Sally

This paper reviewed the loss of perceptual ability on phonologically irrelevant contrasts. In addition, the author also proposed a theory regarding developmental loss of speech perception: First, there are two discrete periods of loss, second half of the first year and between four and eight years of age. Second, the age of loss of perceptual ability is correlated to the robustness of contrasts—those lost during the first year are because of the lack of exposure to nonnative “fragile” contrasts, whereas those lost later (4 to 8 years, around the beginning of formal language training) are due to the lack of phonological contrast with nonnative “robust” contrasts. However, perceptual ability is never completely lost, only that those lost latter are more easily demonstrated.