Prosodic cues in second-language speech processing

A visual world eye-tracking study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11655970
AutoresMichelle Perdomo (0000-0002-8845-7384, University of Florida, FL, USA, autor de correspondencia), Edith Kaan (0000-0002-0862-2993, University of Florida, FL, USA)
Año2019
Volumen37
Número2
Páginas349-375
Fecha de publicación2019-10-14
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSecond language Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0267-6583 • E-ISSN: 1477-0326
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0267658319879196
OpenAlexW2981248987
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas16
Referencias citadas47

Listeners interpret cues in speech processing immediately rather than waiting until the end of a sentence. In particular, prosodic cues in auditory speech processing can aid listeners in building information structure and contrast sets. Native speakers even use this information in combination with syntactic and semantic information to build mental representations predictively. Research on second-language (L2) learners suggests that learners have difficulty integrating linguistic information across various domains, likely subject to L2 proficiency levels. The current study investigated eye-movement behavior of native speakers of English and Chinese learners of English in their use of contrastive intonational cues to restrict the set of upcoming referents in a visual world paradigm. Both native speakers and learners used contrastive pitch accent to restrict the set of referents. Whereas native speakers anticipated the upcoming set of referents, this was less clear in the L2 learners. This suggests that learners are able to integrate information across multiple domains to build information structure in the L2 but may not do so predictively. Prosodic processing was not affected by proficiency or working memory in the L2 speakers

Contrast (vision · Eye tracking · First language · Language proficiency · Linguistics · Pitch accent · Prosody · Sentence · Sentence processing · Set (abstract data type · Stress (linguistics · Categorization, perception, and language · Computer Science · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Phonetics and Phonology Research · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence