GEOMETRIC ACCOUNTS OF CONSONANT VOWEL INTERACTIONS IN DEVELOPING SYSTEMS

Phenomena associated with consonant-vowel interactions are examined re lative to three general models of feature geometry which differ in the planar relationship of consonants and vowels. The data come from repo rts of developing phonological systems, both normal and disordered. Ge ometric analyses reveal that consonants and vowels are fully integrate d in the earliest stages of development such that the place specificat ion of consonants is primarily derived from the vowel. However, change through development requires modifications either in the principles o f place association, the degree of feature specification, or the plana r representation of consonants and vowels.