特征注意力和口音识别:人类听众对五种北英语口音的反应
Chris Montgomery1, Hielke Vriesendorp2, Gareth Walker1
1School of English, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in psychology
|December 22, 2025
概括
听众自然会专注于特定的语音,如元音和辅音,以识别北英语的口音. 具有多个不同的声音线索的口音更容易识别,突出了社会因素在口音感知中的作用.
科学领域:
- 语音学和语音学 语音学和语音学
- 社会语言学 社会语言学
- 认知心理学 认知心理学
背景情况:
- 社会语言学研究往往侧重于特定的语音变量,用于口音分类.
- 目前尚不清楚这些变量是否与非语言学家在识别区域口音时自然关注的特征保持一致.
- 了解听众的注意力对于口音感知和社会索引至关重要.
研究的目的:
- 调查人类听众如何感知和定位北英语口音.
- 识别在口音识别过程中吸引听者的注意力的语言特征.
- 将听众选择的特征与在口音分类模型中通常优先考虑的特征进行比较.
主要方法:
- 使用实时语言注意力方法.
- 分析了听众对来自五个北英格兰城市 (利兹,利物浦,曼彻斯特,纽卡斯尔,谢菲尔德) 扬声器的特征的注意力.
- 收集了98名参与者的数据,而没有将他们的注意力集中在特定的特征上.
主要成果:
- 观察到识别准确度的显著变化.
- 利物浦和纽卡斯尔的口音比利兹,曼彻斯特和谢菲尔德的口音更准确地识别出来.
- 听众关注的是突出的特征 (例如",浴"和""元音) 和当地特定的线索 (例如,利物浦的摩擦 / k /,纽卡斯尔的形 / t /).
- 有多个强化线索的口音更可靠地被识别出来.
结论:
- 听众的注意力受到认知和社会突出影响.
- 听众使用的社会基础特征范围比计算模型中经常假设的更广泛.
- 识别自发参与的特征提供了对口音感知和语言变异,突出性和社会索引的相互作用的认知过程的见解.
相关概念视频
01:21Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
885
The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
885
01:17Auditory Perception
983
The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
983
01:29Non-Verbal Cues
240
Non-verbal communication extends beyond gestures and facial expressions to include vocal elements known as paralanguage. Paralanguage consists of non-verbal vocal cues such as pitch, loudness, speech rate, pauses, and non-verbal vocalizations like laughter, sighs, and moans. These elements not only accompany speech but also provide critical emotional and contextual information.The Role of Paralanguage in CommunicationParalanguage adds depth to spoken language by conveying emotions and...
240
01:14Impression Management Techniques IV: Altercasting
152
Altercasting is a strategic communication technique in which an individual imposes a specific identity or social role onto another person to influence their behavior and shape the interaction. By presuming a role—such as “responsible leader” or “patient person”—altercasting encourages the target to conform to that identity, often aligning their behavior with the expectations associated with the role. The power of this tactic lies in its subtlety; once a role...
152
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
8.7K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
8.7K
01:24Facial Feedback Hypothesis
526
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
526