Consonant identification in noise by native and non-native listeners : effects of local context

Anne Cutler, Maria Luisa Garcia Lecumberri, Martin Cooke

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    81 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Speech recognition in noise is harder in second (L2) than first languages (L1). This could be because noise disrupts speech processing more in L2 than L1, or because L1 listeners recover better though disruption is equivalent. Two similar prior studies produced discrepant results: Equivalent noise effects for L1 and L2 (Dutch) listeners, versus larger effects for L2 (Spanish) than L1. To explain this, the latter experiment was presented to listeners from the former population. Larger noise effects on consonant identification emerged for L2 (Dutch) than L1 listeners, suggesting that task factors rather than L2 population differences underlie the results discrepancy.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages5
    JournalJournal of Acoustical Society of America
    Publication statusPublished - 2008

    Keywords

    • consonants
    • foreign speakers
    • noise
    • speech perception

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