Honors College Theses

Publication Date

3-30-2023

Major

Communication Sciences and Disorders (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Faculty Mentor

Cynthia Green

Abstract

Each spoken language possesses its own phonetic alphabet composed of graphical symbols that represent each individual sound used within the language, called phonemes. From the moment infants begin to hear their mother’s voice in the womb, they begin building their phonemic awareness in order to eventually replicate and speak the language themselves. However, by the end of the first year of life, infants lose the ability to identify speech sounds that are not spoken within their direct environment, and acquisition of any non-native phonemes past this point becomes considerably difficult. In order to diminish the phonemic difficulties that accompany new language learning past this threshold, an understanding of the neurophysiological processes involved in this loss in phonemic discrimination is necessary. This paper will highlight current literature that explores the proposed causes of this loss in discrimination and practices that can be used to assist adults looking to acquire a new language consisting of non-native phonemes.

Thesis Summary

By the end of the first year of life, infants lose the ability to identify speech sounds that are not spoken within their direct environment, and acquisition of any non-native phonemes past this point becomes considerably difficult. In order to diminish the phonemic difficulties that accompany new language learning past this threshold, an understanding of the neurophysiological processes involved in this loss in phonemic discrimination is necessary. This paper will highlight current literature that explores the proposed causes of this loss in discrimination and practices that can be used to assist adults looking to acquire a new language consisting of non-native phonemes.

Download

Share

COinS