Peeling back the layers of time : integrating speech perception on the scales of stimulus time, experiential time, and developmental time

What is the role of temporal integration in the development of speech perception? The answer depends on how one construes ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"temporal integration.ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Over which time scale does the integration take placeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âthe microscopic scale of stimulus time, the more extended scale of experiential time with a given language, or the macroscopic scale of developmental time? The answer also depends on what one thinks might be developing in ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"the development of speech perception.ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ Naturally, the approach to both issues depends on one's theoretical perspective. This commentary will address the three time scales, within the context of selected perspectives on what, exactly, may be developing in speech perception. I begin by summarizing my own and several other key views regarding integration at the stimulus time scale, with special attention to Peter Jusczyk's WRAPSA model (e.g., [Jusczyk (1993) and Jusczyk (1997)]). The invited papersââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ contributions to the issues are then considered, and possible points of contact between them are suggested. I conclude by raising some questions about developmental change in nonnative versus native speech perception as a reflection of long-term temporal integration.