The influence of sonority on children's cluster reductions.

Two studies of consonant cluster reduction in children with normal language development were performed. Children ranged in age from 1;1 to 3;2. Both investigations tested a hypothesis of consonant cluster reduction based on the Sonority Theory. This hypothesis predicted that children would reduce clusters to whichever consonant would result in the least complex syllable as defined by sonority. More specifically, the hypothesis predicted that children would reduce initial clusters to whichever consonant produced the greatest rise in sonority and final clusters to whichever consonant produced a minimal sonority descent. Results of both studies support this sonority-driven account of cluster reduction.