Abstract
Four studies using a variant of the conditioned head turning procedure, in which response latencies to extraneous noises occurring at different junctures within synthetic syllable strings served as the dependent variable, investigated 6- and 9-month-old infants’ representations of familiar and novel syllable pairs manifesting diverse rhythmic patterns.Familiarbisyllables tended to be perceived similarly by both age groups: These bisyllables were perceived as being cohesive, without regard to whether they manifested trochaic (longer–shorter) or iambic (shorter–longer) rhythm.Novelbisyllables were perceived differently by the two age groups. Six-month-olds appeared to perceive segmentally novel, but rhythmically familiar, bisyllables as cohesive, whereas they failed to perceive rhythmically novel, but segmentally familiar bisyllables in the same fashion. Similar patterns of results were obtained with trochaic and iambic bisyllables. Nine-month-olds, however, were differentially sensitive to different rhythmic patterns. Older infants appeared to perceive novel bisyllables as cohesive only when they manifested trochaic rhythm, whether the bisyllables were segmentally or rhythmically novel. Nine-month-olds’ behavior is consistent with the possibility that they have adopted a metrical strategy for segmentation, as A. Cutler (1990 and elsewhere) has argued is the case for novice and expert English speakers alike. The plausibility of such a strategy with respect to the nature of child-directed speech is discussed, as are possible consequences for acquisition of such a strategy.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.