Dataset Information

Listener characteristics modulate the semantic processing of native vs. foreign-accented speech.

ABSTRACT: Foreign accents have been shown to have considerable impact on how language is processed [1]. However, the impact of a foreign accent on semantic processing is not well understood. Conflicting results have been reported by previous event-related potential (ERP) studies investigating the impact of foreign-accentedness on the N400 effect elicited by semantic violations. Furthermore, these studies have only examined a subset of the four characteristics of the N400 (i.e. onset latency, latency, amplitude, and scalp distribution), and have been conducted in linguistic environments where foreign-accented speech is relatively uncommon. The current study therefore compared the N400 effect elicited by semantic violations in native Australian English vs. Mandarin-accented English, in a context where foreign-accented speech is common. Factors which may be responsible for individual variability in N400 amplitude were also investigated. The results showed no differences between the N400s elicited by native and foreign-accented speech in any of the four aforementioned characteristics. However, the analysis of individual variability revealed an effect of familiarity with foreign-accented speech on the amplitude of N400 effects for semantic violations. An effect of working memory capacity on N400 amplitude was also found. These findings highlight the relevance of the ambient linguistic environment for studies of speech processing, and demonstrate the interacting influences of both speaker- and listener-related factors on semantic processing.

SUBMITTER: Holt R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6281179 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Listener characteristics modulate the semantic processing of native vs. foreign-accented speech.

Holt Rebecca R Kung Carmen C Demuth Katherine K

PloS one 20181205 12

Foreign accents have been shown to have considerable impact on how language is processed [1]. However, the impact of a foreign accent on semantic processing is not well understood. Conflicting results have been reported by previous event-related potential (ERP) studies investigating the impact of foreign-accentedness on the N400 effect elicited by semantic violations. Furthermore, these studies have only examined a subset of the four characteristics of the N400 (i.e. onset latency, latency, ampl ...[more]

PMID: 30517122

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Project description:Purpose Older native speakers of English have difficulty in understanding Spanish-accented English compared to younger native English speakers. However, it is unclear if this age effect would be observed among native speakers of Spanish. The current study investigates the effects of age and native language experience with Spanish on the ability to recognize words spoken in English by Spanish-accented and unaccented talkers. Method English monosyllabic words, recorded by native speakers of English and Spanish, were presented to 4 groups of listeners with normal hearing: younger native Spanish listeners ( n = 15), older native Spanish listeners ( n = 16), younger native English listeners ( n = 15), and older native English listeners ( n = 15). Speech recognition accuracy was assessed for the unaccented and accented words in both quiet and noise. Results In all conditions, the native English listeners performed better than the native Spanish listeners. More specifically, the native speakers of Spanish consistently recognized accented English less accurately than the native speakers of English, demonstrating no advantage of shared native language experience between nonnative listeners and accented talkers. Older listeners in the native Spanish language group also performed less accurately than their younger counterparts, for English words spoken by both unaccented and accented talkers. Finally, whereas listeners who were native speakers of English showed marked declines in recognition of Spanish-accented English relative to unaccented English, listeners who were native speakers of Spanish (both younger and older) showed less decline. Conclusions The general pattern of results suggests that both native language experience in a language other than English and age limit the ability to recognize Spanish-accented English. The implication of the overall findings is that older nonnative listeners will have considerable difficulty in understanding English, regardless of the talker's accent, in both clinical and everyday listening situations.

Dataset Information

Listener characteristics modulate the semantic processing of native vs. foreign-accented speech.

Publications

Listener characteristics modulate the semantic processing of native vs. foreign-accented speech.

Similar Datasets

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