Dataset Information

Perception of American English vowels by sequential Spanish-English bilinguals.

ABSTRACT: Research on American-English (AE) vowel perception by Spanish-English bilinguals has focused on the vowels /i/-/?/ (e.g., in sheep/ship). Other AE vowel contrasts may present perceptual challenges for this population, especially those requiring both spectral and durational discrimination. We used Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), MMN (Mismatch Negativity) and P300, to index discrimination of AE vowels /?/-/?/ by sequential adult Spanish-English bilingual listeners compared to AE monolinguals. Listening tasks were non-attended and attended, and vowels were presented with natural and neutralized durations. Regardless of vowel duration, bilingual listeners showed no MMN to unattended sounds, and P300 responses were elicited to /?/ but not /?/ in the attended condition. Monolingual listeners showed pre-attentive discrimination (MMN) for /?/ only; while both vowels elicited P300 responses when attended. Findings suggest that Spanish-English bilinguals recruit attentional and cognitive resources enabling native-like use of both spectral and durational cues to discriminate between AE vowels /?/ and /?/.

SUBMITTER: Garcia PB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5809139 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Perception of American English vowels by sequential Spanish-English bilinguals.

García Paula B PB Froud Karen K

Bilingualism (Cambridge, England) 20160913 1

Research on American-English (AE) vowel perception by Spanish-English bilinguals has focused on the vowels /i/-/ɪ/ (e.g., in <i>sheep</i>/<i>ship</i>). Other AE vowel contrasts may present perceptual challenges for this population, especially those requiring both spectral and durational discrimination. We used Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), MMN (Mismatch Negativity) and P300, to index discrimination of AE vowels /ɑ/-/ʌ/ by sequential adult Spanish-English bilingual listeners compared to AE mon ...[more]

PMID: 29449782

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Dataset Information

Perception of American English vowels by sequential Spanish-English bilinguals.

Publications

Perception of American English vowels by sequential Spanish-English bilinguals.

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