Common Phonological Disorders in Vietnamese - Speaking Children Aged 5-6: A Case Study in Hanoi

Abstract

Articulation is a foundational skill in the development of children's language and cognitive abilities. At the age of 5-6, children begin to consolidate the phonemic system of their native language, Vietnamese; however, certain difficulties in accurate pronunciation persist, particularly with nuclear vowels, final consonants, and tonal patterns. A survey conducted in Hanoi—representative of the Northern dialectal region—revealed a decreasing trend in pronunciation errors with age, and no significant differences between male and female children. This study classifies common types of phonemic articulation disorders in Vietnamese among children aged 5-6, and proposes intervention strategies such as adjusting articulatory positions and manners, and training tonal features and pitch contours. These approaches aim to support effective language development prior to formal schooling.