Speech Errors as Evidence for Language Processing

A Descriptive Linguistic Study

Abstract

Speech production is a process by which the thoughts are translated into speech. However, during the process errors can be seen to occur. Speech errors provide an abundance of information about the cognitive processes involved in language creation and processing; they are not just random mistakes. Thus, the aim of the current study was to understand – a) Does the concept of ‘speech error’ exists in ancient Indian knowledge system, b) What are the different types of Speech errors and c) Do errors differ at different levels of processing. Using the secondary sources of information from books and articles, that were reviewed from IIAS, digital depositary, information related to the above objectives of the study was collected. Review on ancient Indian knowledge system, showed that Paninian Grammar described the enormous rules for sound, word and sentence formations. While, ‘Sivasutras’, described the sequencing of phonemes (speech sounds) that are arranged for production and in ‘Manusrmuti’, description on how the sounds were being represented from oral tradition to written scripts and the possibility of being misprounced or misarticulated. However, the concept of ‘Speech Errors’ was not described. The different types of speech errors seen were Substitution, Addition, Omission and Transposition of sounds. The findings also revealed different errors at different levels of production. In conclusion, it was noted that Descriptive Linguistic Approaches do take into account the Language Processing accounts. Speech errors also showed that Language is not modular or static but dynamic interactive process. The findings could have both clinical and theoretical implications.