The Development of Speech Rhythm in Mandarin-Speaking Children

From the perspective of rhythm, Mandarin Chinese is a “syllable-timed” language. This study examines the development of speech rhythm in Mandarin-speaking children under the interactive alignment model (IAM). Interval-based rhythm metrics were applied to the speech of 2.5-7-year-olds in four age groups and compared with the child-directed speech (CDS) of their parents. Results reveal that some vowel (final)-related metrics (delta _ V, Percent_ V, and rPVI _ V) display a kind of proximity pattern. While some consonant (initial)-related metrics (delta _ C, mean _ C, nPVI _ C, rPVI _ C, Varco _ C, mean _ C) or speech rates (SR, AR) display an entrainment pattern. Before the age of 5, the development patterns of these consonant-related metrics show a synchronic way with CDS. At the age of 5, a turning point occurs, leading to a tendency towards convergence. Nevertheless, even by age 7, the rhythm patterns have not yet reached the level of CDS. For older age groups, vowel-related metrics contribute more to rhythm, indicating that for Mandarin Chinese, the effect of final duration variability on rhythm gradually increases. The protracted acquisition of speech rhythm suggests that immature motor skills may impede children's ability to implement in an adult-like manner the phonological representations they have acquired.