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Noncategorical perception of stop consonants differing in VOT
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|October 1, 1977
Summary
This study investigated speech sound perception, specifically bilabial stop consonants varying in voice onset time (VOT). Results challenge strict categorical perception theories, showing continuous discrimination improvement and flexible boundary shifts.
Area of Science:
- Phonetics
- Psychoacoustics
- Speech Perception
Background:
- Categorical perception is a widely accepted model for speech sound discrimination.
- Stop consonants, like bilabial stops, are often cited as prime examples of categorical perception.
- Voice onset time (VOT) is a critical acoustic cue distinguishing consonant voicing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the discriminability of bilabial stop consonants differing in VOT.
- To test the predictions of categorical perception theory under various experimental conditions.
- To investigate the flexibility of perceptual category boundaries for speech sounds.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Abramson-Lisker bilabial consonant series, varying in VOT.
- Employed same-different, oddity, and dual-response discrimination-identification tasks.
- Included training with feedback and manipulated stimulus differences.
Main Results:
- Subjects demonstrated excellent within-category discrimination after training.
- Discrimination performance improved continuously with increasing stimulus difference, both within and between categories.
- Participants could shift their identification category boundaries to arbitrary experimental values.
Conclusions:
- The findings are incompatible with a strict interpretation of categorical perception for stop consonants.
- Speech sound perception may be more continuous and flexible than previously modeled.
- The study highlights the need to refine models of speech perception to account for continuous discrimination and boundary shifts.
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