Developmental pattern
Fronting
Sounds made at the back of the mouth get replaced by sounds made at the front.
- Resolves
- Velar fronting by 3;6 · Palatal fronting by 4;0
- Sounds affected
- k, g, ng, sh, ch (as "ts"), j (as "dz")
- Word pairs
- 14
- Picture pairs
- 9
What it sounds like
- "key" becomes "tea"
- "go" becomes "dough"
- "shoe" becomes "Sue"
- "chip" becomes "tsip"
Also called: Velar fronting, palatal fronting
What is going on
Fronting happens when a child makes a sound with the tip of the tongue that should be made with the back of the tongue. The most common version is velar fronting, where /k/ turns into /t/ and /g/ turns into /d/ - so "cookie" comes out as "tootie" and "go get it" becomes "doe det it." A second version, palatal fronting, moves SH and CH forward into S and TS, so "shoe" sounds like "Sue." Front sounds are simply easier to see and feel, which is why toddlers reach for them first.
Fronting affects some of the most common sounds in English, so it can make a child hard to understand very quickly. The good news is that it usually responds well and fast to minimal pair therapy, because the child can hear the difference between the words even when they cannot yet make it.
Try this at home
When to refer
Minimal pairs
9 picture pairsThese pairs have two distinct picture subjects. Put both pictures on the table and take turns asking for one. If the two words sound alike, slow down and compare the sounds together. The printable word list has additional listening contrasts. Tap any pair to open it full screen and score each turn with Yes! or Not quite.