Language categorization by adults is based on sensitivity to durational cues, not rhythm class

L. White; S.L. Mattys; L. Wiget

doi:10.1016/j.jml.2011.12.010

Language categorization by adults is based on sensitivity to durational cues, not rhythm class

L. White, S.L. Mattys, L. Wiget

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Studies of listeners' ability to distinguish languages when segmental information is eliminated have been taken as evidence for categorical rhythmic distinctions between language groups (" rhythm classes" ). Furthermore, it has been suggested that sensitivity to rhythm class is present at birth and that infants must establish the rhythm class of their native language as a precursor to language acquisition. We tested the hypothesis that adult listeners' ability to distinguish between languages is better predicted by differences in specific durational cues than by putative rhythm classes. We examined the categorization of language pairs using utterances in which only durational characteristics were preserved. We found that English listeners could distinguish between not only English and Spanish (from different rhythm classes), but also between different accents of British English. Furthermore, patterns of categorization between and within languages highlighted the contribution of speech rate, durational contrast and utterance-final lengthening.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	665-679
Journal	Journal of Memory and Language
Volume	66
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2011.12.010
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2012

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10.1016/j.jml.2011.12.010

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Language categorization by adults is based on sensitivity to durational cues, not rhythm class

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