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Ongoing Development of Online Tone and Intonation Recognition in Mandarin during Late Childhood

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Title: Ongoing Development of Online Tone and Intonation Recognition in Mandarin during Late Childhood
Language: English
Authors: Xiaohe Xie (ORCID 0009-0000-4769-5282), Shiting Yang, Yi-Chen Zhang, Qi Dong, Yun Nan (ORCID 0000-0003-3793-4133)
Source: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 2026 69(1):97-107.
Availability: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Mandarin Chinese, Intonation, Recognition (Psychology), Language Acquisition, Children, Adults, Age Differences, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: China (Beijing)
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Raven Progressive Matrices, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
DOI: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00922
ISSN: 1092-4388
1558-9102
Abstract: Purpose: In tonal languages such as Chinese, the processing of lexical tone and speech intonation inevitably interact due to their shared reliance on fundamental frequency (F0). However, the developmental trajectory of this interaction remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine the development and maturation of online tone--intonation recognition during late childhood in native Mandarin-speaking children. Method: We conducted a longitudinal study tracking a group of Mandarin-speaking children (n = 66) from ages 9 to 11 years, and cross-sectionally compared their performance to that of adults (n = 21) on intonation (question vs. statement) and lexical tone (rising Tone 2 vs. falling Tone 4) identification, using the same set of sentences. Results: Children showed improvement over the 2-year period, particularly for stimuli with conflicting tone--intonation F0 contours (Tone 4 with question intonation and Tone 2 with statement intonation). Nonetheless, even at age 11 years, children still lagged behind adults in all conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that online recognition of tone and intonation in Mandarin continues to develop throughout late childhood.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1493897
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
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  Data: Ongoing Development of Online Tone and Intonation Recognition in Mandarin during Late Childhood
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiaohe+Xie%22">Xiaohe Xie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4769-5282">0009-0000-4769-5282</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shiting+Yang%22">Shiting Yang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yi-Chen+Zhang%22">Yi-Chen Zhang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Qi+Dong%22">Qi Dong</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yun+Nan%22">Yun Nan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3793-4133">0000-0003-3793-4133</externalLink>)
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  Data: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mandarin+Chinese%22">Mandarin Chinese</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intonation%22">Intonation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Recognition+%28Psychology%29%22">Recognition (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1044/2025_JSLHR-24-00922
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  Data: 1092-4388<br />1558-9102
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: In tonal languages such as Chinese, the processing of lexical tone and speech intonation inevitably interact due to their shared reliance on fundamental frequency (F0). However, the developmental trajectory of this interaction remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine the development and maturation of online tone--intonation recognition during late childhood in native Mandarin-speaking children. Method: We conducted a longitudinal study tracking a group of Mandarin-speaking children (n = 66) from ages 9 to 11 years, and cross-sectionally compared their performance to that of adults (n = 21) on intonation (question vs. statement) and lexical tone (rising Tone 2 vs. falling Tone 4) identification, using the same set of sentences. Results: Children showed improvement over the 2-year period, particularly for stimuli with conflicting tone--intonation F0 contours (Tone 4 with question intonation and Tone 2 with statement intonation). Nonetheless, even at age 11 years, children still lagged behind adults in all conditions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that online recognition of tone and intonation in Mandarin continues to develop throughout late childhood.
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      – SubjectFull: Mandarin Chinese
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intonation
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