Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Research background
1.2 Purpose of the study
1.3 Significance of the study
1.4 Research questions and hypotheses
Chapter 2 Literature review
2.1 Articulation and acoustics of obstruents
2.1.1 Articulation of obstruents
2.1.2 Acoustics of obstruents
2.2 Theoretical frameworks
2.2.1 Theories on the phonological acquisition order
2.2.2 Theories on discontinuity and continuity
2.3 Previous studies
2.3.1 Studies related to the phonological acquisition order
2.3.2 Studies related to continuity and discontinuity of speech
development
2.4 Summary
Chapter 3 Experiment one：Stops
3.1 Methodology
3.1.1 Participants
3.1.2 Materials
3.1.3 Procedures
3.1.4 Transcription analysis
3.1.5 Acoustic analysis
3.1.6 Statistical analysis
3.2 Results
3.2.1 Acoustic properties of stops
3.2.2 Acquisition order suggested by transcription analysis
3.2.3 Acquisition order and issue of continuity suggested by
acoustic analysis
3.3 Discussion
3.3.1 Acoustic properties of stops
3.3.2 Acquisition order of stops
3.3.3 Issue of continuity
3.4 Summary
Chapter 4 Experiment two：Fricatives
4.1 Methodology
4.1.1 Participants
4.1.2 Materials
4.1.3 Procedures
4.1.4 Transcription analysis
4.1.5 Acoustic analysis
4.1.6 Statistical analysis
4.2 Results
4.2.1 Acoustic properties of fricatives
4.2.2 Acquisition order suggested by transcription analysis
4.2.3 Acquisition order and issue of continuity suggested by
acoustic analysis
4.3 Discussion
4.3.1 Acoustic properties of fricatives
4.3.2 Acquisition order of fricatives
4.3.3 Issue of continuity
4.4 Summary
Chapter 5 Experiment three：Affricates
5.1 Methodology
5.1.1 Participants
5.1.2 Materials
5.1.3 Procedures
5.1.4 Transcription analysis
5.1.5 Acoustic analysis
5.1.6 Statistical analysis
5.2 Results
5.2.1 Acoustic properties of affricates
5.2.2 Acquisition order suggested by transcription analysis
5.2.3 Acquisition order and issue of continuity suggested by
acoustic analysis
5.3 Discussion
5.3.1 Acoustic properties of affricates
5.3.2 Acquisition order of affricates
5.3.3 Issue of continuity
5.4 Summary
Chapter 6 General discussion
6.1 Acoustic properties of obstruents
6.2 Acquisition order of obstruents
6.3 Issue of continuity
Chapter 7 Conclusion
7.1 Major findings
7.2 Limitations
7.3 Directions for future research
References
Acknowledgments