Acoustic characteristics of onomatopoetic expressions in child-directed speech

The purpose of this study was to identify preliminary acoustic and phonological characteristics of onomatopoetic expressions (OE) in Swedish child-directed speech. The materials on one mother interacting with her 4-year-old child were transcribed and used for pitch contour measurements on OE. Measurements were also made on some non-onomatopoetic expressions to be used as controls. The results showed that OE were often composed of CV or CVC syllables, as well as that the syllables or words of the expressions were usually reduplicated. Also, the mother’s voice was often modified when OE were used. It was common that the quality of the voice was creaky or that the mother whispered these expressions. There were also changes in intonation and some of the expressions had higher fundamental frequency (f0) as compared to non-onomatopoetic expressions. In several ways then, OE can be seen as highly modified child-directed speech.