In what order do the phonemes /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ typically get acquired?

In what order do the phonemes /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ typically get acquired?

• A. /p/, /k/, /θ/, /ʒ/
• B. /p/, /θ/, /k/, /ʒ/
• C. /θ/, /p/, /k/, /ʒ/
• D. /θ/, /ʒ/, /k/, /p/

Answer: (B)

The order of phoneme acquisition reflects the typical progression in speech development among children. In this context, the phonemes /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ represent a variety of places and manners of articulation, which influence their ease of production. The phoneme /p/ is a bilabial stop, produced using both lips, and is usually one of the earliest sounds children acquire due to its simplicity and ease of articulation. Following /p/, the phoneme /θ/, which is a voiceless dental fricative, tends to develop later as it requires precise tongue placement against the teeth. The production of /k/, a velar stop, often develops around the same time as /θ/ since both require some degree of airflow control and oral closure. Finally, /ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar fricative, typically emerges last because it involves a more complex articulation and is less frequent in the initial positions of words. Thus, the sequence /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ accurately reflects this developmental pattern, aligning with the evidence from normative speech development studies.

The order of phoneme acquisition reflects the typical progression in speech development among children. In this context, the phonemes /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ represent a variety of places and manners of articulation, which influence their ease of production.

The phoneme /p/ is a bilabial stop, produced using both lips, and is usually one of the earliest sounds children acquire due to its simplicity and ease of articulation. Following /p/, the phoneme /θ/, which is a voiceless dental fricative, tends to develop later as it requires precise tongue placement against the teeth. The production of /k/, a velar stop, often develops around the same time as /θ/ since both require some degree of airflow control and oral closure. Finally, /ʒ/, a voiced postalveolar fricative, typically emerges last because it involves a more complex articulation and is less frequent in the initial positions of words.

Thus, the sequence /p/, /θ/, /k/, and /ʒ/ accurately reflects this developmental pattern, aligning with the evidence from normative speech development studies.