ePrints

Segmentation by lexical subtraction in Hungarian speakers of second-language English

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Laurence WhiteORCiD

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Using cross-modal form priming, we compared the use of stress and lexicality in the segmentation of spoken English by native English speakers (L1) and by native Hungarian speakers of second-language English (L2). For both language groups, lexicality was found to be an effective segmentation cue. That is, spoken disyllabic word fragments were stronger primes in a subsequent visual word recognition task when preceded by meaningful words than when preceded by nonwords: For example, the first two syllables of corridor were a more effective prime for visually presented corridor when heard in the phrase anythingcorri than in imoshingcorri. The stress pattern of the prime (strong-weak vs. weak-strong) did not affect the degree of priming. For L1 speakers, this supports previous findings about the preferential use of high-level segmentation strategies in clear speech. For L2 speakers, the lexical strategy was employed regardless of L2 proficiency level and instead of exploiting the consistent stress pattern of their native language. This is clear evidence for the primacy and robustness of segmentation by lexical subtraction even in individuals whose lexical knowledge is limited. © 2009 The Experimental Psychology Society.

Publication metadata

Author(s): White L, Melhorn JF, Mattys SL

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

Year: 2010

Volume: 63

Issue: 3

Pages: 544-554

Print publication date: 01/03/2010

Online publication date: 01/03/2010

ISSN (print): 1747-0218

ISSN (electronic): 1747-0226

Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470210903006971

DOI: 10.1080/17470210903006971

PubMed id: 19591079

Altmetrics

Share