The Role of Semantic Predictability in Adaptation to Nonnative Speech

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Date

2020

Authors

Walker, Kayla
Baese-Berk, Melissa
Bent, Tessa

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

Nonnative-accented speech is more difficult for native listeners to understand than native-accented speech. However, listeners can improve their abilities to understand nonnative- accented speech through exposure and training. The goal of this project is to explore whether exposing native listeners to different sentence types affects listeners' adaptation to nonnative speech. Listeners will be trained on high predictability sentences (e.g., "The color of a lemon is yellow"), low predictability sentences (e.g., "Mom said that it is yellow"), or semantically anomalous sentences (e.g., "The green week did the page"). Previous research has demonstrated that semantic predictability impacts speech perception, but its influence on adaptation to nonnative speech is unknown. Will training with low predictability or anomalous stimuli require listeners to focus more attention on the acoustic-phonetic properties of the accent and thus lead to greater adaptation and generalizable learning? Or will training with high predictability stimuli provide valuable semantic information that will allow listeners to create a better framework for improving perception? The data from this experiment will shed light on perceptual mechanisms, including how semantic predictability interacts with adaptation and learning.

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Project files are comprised of 1 page pdf and presentation recording in mp4 format.

Keywords

linguistics, speech, language

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