Phonetic variations and sound changes in Hong Kong Cantonese: diachronic review, synchronic study and implications for speech sound assessment.

The aim of this article was to describe phonetic variations and sound changes in Hong Kong Cantonese (HKC) to provide speech-language pathologists with information about acceptable variants of standard pronunciations for speech sound assessments. Study 1 examined the pattern of variations and changes based on past diachronic research and historical written records. Nine phonetic variations were found.

The impact of extrinsic demographic factors on Cantonese speech acquisition.

This study modeled the associations between extrinsic demographic factors and children's speech acquisition in Hong Kong Cantonese. The speech of 937 Cantonese-speaking children aged 2;4 to 6;7 in Hong Kong was assessed using a standardized speech test. Demographic information regarding household income, paternal education, maternal education, presence of siblings and having a domestic helper as the main caregiver was collected via parent questionnaires.

Treatment intensity in everyday clinical management of speech sound disorders in Hong Kong.

Much evidence supports the efficacy of different treatment approaches for speech sound disorders (SSD) in children. Minimal research in the field has been conducted using treatment intensity as a research variable. This study examined the current practice of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in Hong Kong regarding the treatment intensity prescribed to children with SSD and potential factors that were associated with the intensity.

A population study of children's acquisition of Hong Kong Cantonese consonants, vowels, and tones.

Purpose: This study investigated children's acquisition of Hong Kong Cantonese.

Method: Participants were 1,726 children ages 2;4 to 12;4 (years;months). Single-word speech samples were collected to examine 4 measures: initial consonants, final consonants, vowels/diphthongs, and lexical tones.