Linguistics Colloquium: "Perception of Non-native Speech"

Abstract: Listening to non-native speech often provides a significant challenge for native speakers of a language. While substantial work has examined how non-native speech differs from native speech, relatively little work has examined how native listeners perceive this speech. In this talk, I will present studies examining what factors might influence how native speakers perceive and can adapt to non-native speech. Experiments 1 and 2 examine how perception of non-native speech compares to the perception of other unfamiliar types of speech and, and what cognitive and linguistic factors might influence listeners’ abilities to perceive these types of unfamiliar speech. Experiment 3 investigates how native listeners adapt to non-native speech over time, and how exposure to speakers from different backgrounds may influence this adaptation. In Experiment 4, I will present production data investigating some global properties of non-native production that may influence perception of this speech by non-native speakers. I will discuss the implications of these studies for our understanding of non-native speech, and for perception more broadly.

When 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 16, 2017
Building 24 Cummington Mall
Room B 01
Contact Name Carol Neidle
Phone 6173536218
Contact Email carol@bu.edu
Contact Organization Linguistics Program
Fees Free
Speakers Melissa Baese-Berk (University of Oregon)