A phonological process analysis of the acquisition and loss of clicks in Xhosa

Abstract

The aim of this article is to describe the nature and extent of phonological tendencies evident in the acquisition and loss of clicks in the Xhosa language. Based on these tendencies numerous phonological processes are identified that have not been documented in previous research. 41 Xhosa speaking children aged between 1;6 and 5;5; 18 English and Afrikaans speaking children acquiring Xhosa as a third/foreign language in the primary school; and three Xhosa speaking aphasics were tested. The results firstly indicate that four major phonological processes appear to be operative in the acquisition and loss of clicks by the three subject groups. Secondly, certain results also indicate that the three subject groups tend to prefer certain phonological processes when producing these sounds.