Perception of conversational and clear speech syllables by native and non-native English-speaking listeners

Abstract

In a recent study later, but not earlier, learners of English as a second language produced a smaller clear-speech benefit than native English-speaking talkers for vowels produced in six /bVd/ syllables (Rogers et al., 2010, JASA 123, 410–423). The present study compares perception of the same syllables by native and non-native English-speaking listeners. Conversational and clear-speech productions of the target syllables, “bead, bid, bayed, bed, bad,” and “bod,” were selected from three monolingual English speakers who had produced a significant clear-speech benefit in Rogers et al. (2010). The syllables were then mixed with noise at several signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). Perception of these stimuli by three groups of listeners will be examined: (1) monolingual native English speakers, (2) ‘early’ learners of English as a second language, with an age of immersion (AOI) of 12 or earlier, and (3) later learners of English as a second language, with an AOI of 15 or later. Analyses of results of the six-alternative forced-choice task will focus on comparisons across listener groups, for the following measures: (1) estimates of clear-speech benefit at approximately 50% correct; (2) performance at a common SNR; and (3) estimates of the slope of the psychometric function. [Work supported by NIH.]