phonological saliency

[Hua Zhu]

Alcock is right in saying that the notion of acoustic/phonological
saliency, though alluded to frequently in 
the literature, lacks clear, testable definition. 

In my work on the acquisition of Chinese phonology, I define
Phonological Saliency as a syllable-based, language-specific concept.
The saliency value of a particular phonological feature is determined
primarily by its role within the phonological systme of the language. It
could be affected by a combination of factors, e.g the status of a
component in the syllable structure, especially whether it is compulsory
or optional; the capacity of a component in differentiating lexical
meaning of a syllable; the number of permissible choices within a
component in the syllable structure. 

For further information, see: 
Zhu Hua & Barbara Dodd (2000).The phonological acquisition of Putonghua
(Modern Standard Chinese). Journal of Child 
Language, 27 (1), 3-42. 
Zhu Hua (2002). Phonological development in specific contexts:studies of
Chinese-speaking children. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. 

Currently I'm working on evaluating the above definition using
cross-linguistic data: 
Zhu Hua & Barbara Dodd (Eds.). (Planned publication date: Dec. 2004).
Phonological development and disorders: A cross-linguistic
perspective.Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. 

I will appreciate your views on the role/definition of phonological
saliency, especially with regard to acquisition. 

Zhu Hua, PhD
Lecturer in Language & Communication
School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences University of
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK

>
>I have a question about this concept which seems to be bandied 
>about a lot in the language acquisition literature.  While 
>there do seem to be some empirical studies, for example of the 
>amplitude of particular phonemes compared to other phonemes, 
>it also seems to be a concept that many assume in studies - 
>for example, assuming that initial syllables or phonemes, or 
>final ones, or stressed ones, will be more salient to children 
>learning language.  I am using this concept in the field of 
>literacy (spelling, in particular) and although I can find 
>many papers in spoken language acquisition which draw on the 
>concept of saliency to explain children's preferences for 
>particular words/sounds, I can't seem to find any discussion 
>of the concept per se, or measurements, either acoustic or 
>behavioural, of some aspects of salience.
> 
>Does anyone have any ideas - is this lost in the mists of 
>time, or something that linguists take in with their mothers' 
>milk and I missed out in my neuroscience education? Or am I 
>confusing two different concepts?
> 
>thanks
> 
>Katie Alcock
> 
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