Distinctive Features in the Pluralization Rules of English Speakers

Abstract

First and second graders, given CVC singulars (e.g., NAR) orally and asked to choose between two plurals (NARF-NARK), preferred final sounds sharing with /z/ the stridency or continuance features. This suggests that their pluralization rules are formulated in terms of distinctive features rather than sound segments. Kindergarten children and adults showed no such preferences.