5 Most Common Pronunciation Errors That Many Preschoolers Make

Do you find your preschooler calling ‘rabbit’ as ‘wabbit’? Are you wondering why most of the words your toddler utters sound different than usual? It’s time to put those worries to rest. Your preschooler might be making some common pronunciation errors and it’s just a matter of time before he stops doing so!

Pronunciation is a complex process comprising absolute planning, good coordination, and effective movements of various articulators, such as lips, tongue, cheeks, jaws, and the voice box. Your preschooler may make pronunciation errors if he lacks correct, matured articulation. Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about it as your toddler will outgrow various pronunciation errors in course of time. If you are planning to learn more about common pronunciation errors that your preschooler makes, struggle no more. We’ve listed some of the common pronunciation errors that most toddlers make:

1. Developmental Errors

Your toddler may make pronunciation errors that most toddlers of the same age make. Even though there are speech and sound errors, it is not a concern since these pronunciation errors are regarded as ‘developmentally appropriate’.

2. Mispronouncing Words

Most preschoolers in the age group of one and three years tend to mispronounce simple words. For instance, you may find your preschooler calling ‘aminal’ instead of ‘animal’.

3. The Use Of Inappropriate Letter Sounds

Preschoolers between the age group of two and three years tend to substitute ‘d’ for ‘t’ and ‘w’ instead of ‘r’. For instance, your toddler may say ‘dat’ instead of ‘that’ and ‘wabbit’ for ‘rabbit’. This occurs due to the use of incorrect letter sounds. Your little one may use the sound of ‘t’ for any other sound that he finds difficult to pronounce.

4. Articulation Errors

The movement of mouth to spell words and make sounds is known as articulation. Articulation errors are some of the most common among preschoolers. The toddler is just learning to pronounce words so he may find it difficult at first to manipulate his mouth accurately and that causes articulation errors. For instance, your preschooler may call ‘thun’ instead of ‘sun’. There are different types of articulation errors, which include:

• Additions :

  Your preschooler includes an extra sound when pronouncing a particular word and makes addition error. For instance, he says ‘doguh’ when he wants to say ‘dog’.

• Substitutions :

  When your toddler replaces one sound with another, he makes substitution error. For instance, your little one says ‘thoap’ when he wants to say ‘soap’.

• Deletions :

  Deletions are also popular as omissions. When your toddler omits a sound in a word then it’s a deletion or omission error and it makes speech difficult for you to understand. For instance, your preschooler says ‘pay’ when he intends to say ‘play’.

• Distortions :

  When your preschooler distorts a sound in an unfamiliar way, it’s a distortion error. It occurs when his oral motor skills are not well-developed. For instance, your kid calls, ‘thoup’ when he intends to call ‘soup’.

5. Phonological Process Errors

Phonological process errors involve patterns of sound errors when your preschooler lacks in regulating their mouth for organized tongue movements to pronounce a word. Two prominent phonological errors include fronting and backing.

• Fronting :

  Fronting is also popular as velar fronting. When your toddler substitutes a consonant which needs to be pronounced in the rear part of the mouth with a consonant which is spelled in the front of his mouth, it’s a fronting error. For instance, your kid substitutes ‘c’ for ‘t’ saying ‘cub’ when he intends to say ‘tub.

• Backing :

  Backing is exactly opposite of fronting. When your preschooler makes sounds in rear part of his mouth instead of the front of his mouth, he makes backing error. For instance, your toddler calls ‘g’ instead for ‘b’ calling ‘gumblegee’ when he wants to call ‘bumblebee’.