Helen Grech
Communication Therapy
Institute of Health Care
University of Malta

ABSTRACT
This paper discusses recent findings following an exploratory study of the phonological development of twenty-one normally developing Maltese speaking children. The children were recorded in their natural settings at four different stages between ages 2;0 and 3;6. The data collected was transcribed narrowly and analysed. Each child's phonetic/phonological inventory was identified together with the various developmental phonological processes that were applied throughout the period of study. A developmental profile was collated for the group, indicating trends of stages of phonological development. This profile was compared cross-linguistically. The data fits in with current theories highlighting universal phonological acquisition particularly in the early years. As predicted some language-specific behaviour was also observed. The data is expected to be useful to local speech therapists and allied professionals as an indication of the 'norm'. This information is needed for  comparison of children's speech patterns, identification of the the characteristics of speech disability and fo r planning intervention.