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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Laurence WhiteORCiD
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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. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Author(s): White L, Mattys SL, Wiget L
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Memory and Language
Year: 2012
Volume: 66
Issue: 4
Pages: 665-679
Print publication date: 01/05/2012
Online publication date: 02/03/2012
ISSN (print): 0749-596X
ISSN (electronic): 1096-0821
Publisher: Academic Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.2011.12.010
DOI: 10.1016/j.jml.2011.12.010
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