Processing reduced word-forms in speech perception using probabilistic knowledge about speech production.
Two experiments examined how Dutch listeners deal with the effects of connected-speech processes, specifically those arising from word-final /t/ reduction (e.g., whether Dutch [tas] is tas, bag, or a reduced-/t/ version of tast, touch). Eye movements of Dutch participants were tracked as they looked at arrays containing 4 printed words, each associated with a geometrical shape. Minimal pairs (e.g., tas/tast) were either both above (boven) or both next to (naast) different shapes. Spoken instructions (e.g., "Klik op het woordje tas boven de ster," [Click on the word bag above the star]) thus became unambiguous only on their final words. Prior to disambiguation, listeners' fixations were drawn to /t/-final words more when boven than when naast followed the ambiguous sequences. This behavior reflects Dutch speech-production data: /t/ is reduced more before /b/ than before /n/. We thus argue that probabilistic knowledge about the effect of following context in speech production is used prelexically in perception to help resolve lexical ambiguities caused by continuous-speech processes.
Mitterer
Holger
H
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Wundtlaan, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. holger.mitterer@mpi.nl
McQueen
James M
JM
D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D010700:Phonetics; D011336:Probability; D011930:Reaction Time; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012660:Semantics; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013067:Speech Perception; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014825:Vocabulary