Features of Korean Infants' Vocalizations according to the Stages Models : Focused on 1 to 18 Months

음성발달 모델에 따른 1~18개월 영유아의 음성특징

The purpose of this study is to investigate the features of Korean infants' vocalizations according to the stages models. A total 88 infants, whose ages range from 1 to 18 months, participated in this study. This age is a critical period for vocal development. However, the study of infants' vocalizations has typically focused on children over the age of two. Because of restrictions related to the study of younger infants, from birth to the age of two, it is usually difficult to investigate what are the major features of their vocal development. Therefore, this study provides documentation and analysis of the features of infant vocalization and their vocal development stages. The results shows that the stages model of Oller & Lynch (1992) might be adapted for Korean infants' vocal development. Furthermore, the features of the infants' vocalization are not linearly appeared one stage to the next stage, but are overlapped (Koopmans-van Beinum & van der Stelt, 1986; Nathani et al., 2006; Oller, 1980; Stark, 1980; Vihman, 1996).