Phonemic Inventories Across Languages
Phonemic Inventories
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How can I use this information?
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Additional Resources
Languages across the world have unique phonemic systems. For
individuals learning English as a second language, it is common
for the phonemic system of their first language to influence the
production of sounds in English. ASHA's policy documents
state that SLPs and audiologists must consider the sound systems
of all the languages used by a client in order to provide
appropriate assessment and treatment services.
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Please remember that dialectal differences exist
for each language and should be considered when using
the phonemic charts.
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ASHA's Office of Multicultural Affairs has compiled
information on the phonemic systems for the following
languages:
Speech-language pathologists
can use this information to:
- Identify sounds in a client's phonological system for
languages other than English.
- Determine phonemic influences of a client's native
language on English.
- Identify sounds from the client's first language that
may not exist in English or identify sounds in English that do
not exist in someone's native language.
- Recognize that even if there are similar sounds across two
languages, they may not be used the same way. For example, in
some languages a sound may only be used at the ends of words
and not as a word-initial sound.
Audiologists
can use this information to:
- Correlate the client's audiogram and the sounds of the
client's language(s).
- Recognize and respond to amplification needs.
- Identify the affect of the individual's phonemic system
on speech audiometry assessment.
- Modify materials and procedures during speech audiometry
assessment.
This is not a comprehensive listing of available resources.
The inclusion of specific items in this listing does not
represent a qualitative judgment or an endorsement of these items
by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association.
Books
Hua, Z., & Dodd, B. (2006).
Phonological development and disorders in children: A
multilingual perspective. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
McLeod, S. (2007).
The International guide to speech acquisition. San Diego: Delmar Learning.
Web sites
Speech Accent Archive
Videos
View these videos for additional information
If you have any questions, please contact ASHA's Office of
Multicultural Affairs at
multicultural@asha.org.