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Noise-induced differences in the complexity of spoken language
Catherine T Pham1, Elisabeth A Karuza1
1Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|September 2, 2022
Summary
Speaking in noise reduces language complexity and pauses, especially for those with weaker cognitive control. These speaker-oriented changes aim to manage distraction and aid listener comprehension.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Cognitive Psychology
- Speech Communication
Background:
- Noise significantly impacts communication, yet its effects on language production beyond acoustics are understudied.
- Differentiating speaker- vs. listener-oriented speech modifications in noise is crucial for understanding adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how background noise affects the complexity of spoken language.
- To determine if cognitive control predicts noise-induced speech modifications.
- To distinguish between speaker- and listener-oriented adaptations to noise.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a picture description task via videoconferencing.
- Both speaker and listener were exposed to multi-talker babble noise.
- Language complexity (T-units, clauses, words) and pauses (filled, unfilled) were analyzed.
- Cognitive control was assessed to predict speech modifications.
Main Results:
- Speakers produced fewer T-units, clauses, words, and unfilled pauses in noise.
- Reduced clause, word, and unfilled pause production correlated with weaker cognitive control (speaker-oriented).
- Fewer filled pauses and mazes were observed in noise, independent of cognitive control (potentially listener-oriented).
Conclusions:
- Noise-induced speech modifications are partly speaker-oriented, driven by cognitive load and distraction.
- Some modifications, like reduced disfluencies, may serve to aid listener comprehension.
- Speech adaptation in noise involves a balance between managing cognitive burden and facilitating communication.
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