The acquisition of quantity contrasts in Guina-ang Bontok

Abstract

This study reports on the acquisition of quantity contrasts in Guina-ang Bontok, an indigenous language spoken in the Philippines. Four-year-old and 5-year-old children’s perception and production of quantity contrasts were examined using a pair of names that contrast in the quantity of the medial nasal. Frequencies of the quantity contrast were also calculated using stories in Guina-ang Bontok. The results indicated that even though the overall frequency of geminate consonants was very low in Guina-ang Bontok, children clearly differentiated the single and geminate nasals in both perception and production. Guina-ang Bontok children’s perception and production data resembled those of Finnish children although the frequency of the geminates was much lower in Guina-ang Bontok than in Finnish. Possible explanations for this are provided.