title: The influence of non-native language proficiency on speech perception performance.
abstract: The present study examined to what extent proficiency in a non-native language influences speech perception in noise. We explored how English proficiency affected native (Swedish) and non-native (English) speech perception in four speech reception threshold (SRT) conditions, including two energetic (stationary, fluctuating noise) and two informational (two-talker babble Swedish, two-talker babble English) maskers. Twenty-three normal-hearing native Swedish listeners participated, age between 28 and 64 years. The participants also performed standardized tests in English proficiency, non-verbal reasoning and working memory capacity. Our approach with focus on proficiency and the assessment of external as well as internal, listener-related factors allowed us to examine which variables explained intra- and interindividual differences in native and non-native speech perception performance. The main result was that in the non-native target, the level of English proficiency is a decisive factor for speech intelligibility in noise. High English proficiency improved performance in all four conditions when the target language was English. The informational maskers were interfering more with perception than energetic maskers, specifically in the non-native target. The study also confirmed that the SRT's were better when target language was native compared to non-native.
authors: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Departement of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Kilman
authors: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Departement of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Department of Audiology/ENT, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Zekveld
authors: Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Departement of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Audiology, Linköping University Hospital Linköping, Sweden.
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Hällgren
authors: Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden ; Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Departement of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University Linköping, Sweden.
authors: Jerker
authors: J
authors: Rönnberg
keywords: English proficiency; energetic masking; informational masking; native; non-native; speech perception; working memory