Objectives: The aim of this research was to investigate the early word syllable structure and notable phonological processes in the speech of Jordanian Arabic (JA)-speaking children. Methods: Elicited and spontaneous speech productions of 20 children were transcribed and analyzed by syllable structure. The ages of the participants ranged from 1 to 3 years, divided into four age groups: 1;0-1;6, 1;7-2;0, 2;1-2;6, and 2;7-3;0. Then, the data was analyzed according to ten phonological processes influencing word syllable structure and number. Results: CVC was found to be the most prevalent syllable structure used across all age groups. In terms of syllable number, disyllabic words were the most frequently used. Onomatopoeia, weak syllable deletion, and closed syllable CVVC reduction to CVV were noticed in the productions of children in the first age group. Cluster reduction and onset/ coda deletion occurred the most with the age group 2;1-2;6, while syllable deletion was evident until age 3. Conclusion: It appears that JA-speaking children use CVC syllable structure heavily in bisyllabic and polysyllabic words in their early speech; they avoid monosyllabic CV or CVC syllables to preserve the minimal bimoraic weight of Arabic phonological words. Onomatopoeia is noticed beyond the age of 1 with syllable deletion in the speech of children up to 3. The results are discussed within the context of the current literature.

This study examined multisyllabic words in the speech of Jordanian Arabic-speaking children (JASC) regarding syllable structure, notable phonological processes, and stress assignment. Multisyllabic word productions were collected from 48 participants in the following four age groups: 3–3;6, 3;7–4, 4;1–4;6, and 4;7–5 with 12 participants in each age group. Data were collected using recorded spontaneous speech and picture naming. They were transcribed and analysed in terms of syllable structure, frequencies of syllable types, and phonological processes. Phonological processes were analysed and linked to syllable structure drawing on aspects of the metrical theory including extrametricality, extrasyllabicity, End Rule Right (ERR), and degenerate foot to account for the impact of phonological processes on stress assignment. The variability and complexity of children’s syllable structures were found to increase with age. Further, the CVC syllable structure was the most frequent across the four age groups, whereas CCVC, CCVV, and CVCC were the least frequent. Phonological processes affected antepenultimate, heavy, and closed syllables most. The most notable phonological processes were assimilation and syllable deletion in the younger two age groups. In addition, word-initial weak syllables were more frequently omitted than word-medial weak syllables. Thus, JASC start using phonological processes early to manage the complexity of syllable structures and later start to approximate adult speech as observed in age group 4;7–5 years who showed no phonological processes. These findings may help clinicians in diagnosing children with speech sound disorders (SSDs) and in selecting therapy targets within a developmental hierarchy.

The South African Journal of Communication Disorders (SAJCD) publishes reports and papers concerned with research, and critically evaluative theoretical, philosophical and conceptual issues dealing with aspects of human communication and its disorders, dysphagia, service provision, training and policy.