Related Experiment Videos
Processing time, accent, and comprehensibility in the perception of native and foreign-accented speech
1Department of Linguistics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada. mjmunro@sfu.ca
Language and Speech
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Processing foreign-accented English takes longer. Mandarin accents and lower comprehensibility increase sentence evaluation time for native English listeners, impacting second language acquisition insights.
Area of Science:
- Psycholinguistics
- Second Language Acquisition
- Phonetics
Background:
- Understanding the cognitive load associated with processing non-native speech is crucial.
- Foreign accents can influence speech perception and comprehension.
- Research on accent perception often focuses on listener experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of foreign accent on sentence processing time.
- To determine if accent or comprehensibility affects how quickly listeners evaluate statements.
- To explore the implications for second language teaching.
Main Methods:
- A sentence verification task was employed.
- Native English listeners evaluated true/false statements.
- Statements were spoken by native English speakers and native Mandarin speakers with English accents.
Main Results:
- Mandarin-accented English significantly increased sentence processing time compared to native English.
- Lower comprehensibility ratings correlated with longer processing times.
- The degree of foreign accent did not directly correlate with processing time.
Conclusions:
- Processing foreign-accented speech incurs a cognitive cost.
- Comprehensibility is a key factor in the processing efficiency of accented speech.
- Findings offer insights into challenges in second language learning and teaching.