Segmental acquisition in Portuguese: a dynamic approach

Abstract

Using a longitudinal study, composed of data from three male and one female child, this paper draws a path of alveopalatal affricate acquisition, the sounds [tS] and [dZ], in Brazilian Portuguese. The results corroborate the dynamic approach principle that in segmental acquisition there are linearity and non-linearity in the accurate production of the target sound. We argue that phonological acquisition is individual and non-linear and instable moments reflect the hypothesis a child creates about the functioning of phonological system.