Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

Which term best describes the speech sound errors /sepun/ for /spun/ and /dzu/ for /zu/?

1. Backing and reduplication

2. Tetism and deaffrication

3. Epenthesis and affrication

4. Fronting and stopping

The correct answer is: Backing and reduplication

The speech sound errors /sepun/ for /spun/ and /dzu/ for /zu/ demonstrate specific phonological processes. In the first example, the initial /s/ sound is substituted for /sp/, indicating an alteration in the place of articulation, where the sound is produced further back in the mouth. This phenomenon can be associated with backing, as it reflects a shift from a front or centrally articulated sound to a more posterior one. In the second example, /dzu/ for /zu/, the deletion of the initial /z/ sound and the substitution with /d/ showcases a process wherein a fricative sounds like /z/ is replaced with a stop /d/, which is characteristic of stopping. Therefore, these terms accurately capture the transformation of speech sounds as they were originally articulated. While the other options involve processes such as reduplication, affrication, epenthesis, and others, they do not accurately reflect the changes observed in the provided speech sound errors. Understanding the processes that describe the errors is crucial for diagnosing and treating speech sound disorders effectively.