Do speakers maintain clear speech throughout natural conversation?

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that speakers tend to speak more clearly when they speak with a listener in adverse listening conditions in naturalistic settings. Most previous studies assumed that when speakers speak more clearly, they maintain the style throughout the conversation. However, a clear speech style deviates from speakers’ conversational speaking style, and extra effort is required in order to produce clear speech. Therefore, it is possible that speakers begin a conversation in a clear speaking style and revert back to a conversational style at some point during the conversation. This study aims to examine whether native English speakers use and maintain a clear speaking style while participating in a conversation with non-native speakers in naturalistic settings. Native English listeners will respond to sentences from naturalistic conversations. The sentences are from either a conversation between two native English speakers or a conversation between a native English speaker and a non-native English speaker. Intelligibility (typing what the listeners heard) and comprehensibility (rating how easy it is to understand the sentences) are measured to examine the usage of clear speech throughout the conversations. The results of this study will provide a better understanding of the circumstances under which speakers use clear speech.Previous studies have shown that speakers tend to speak more clearly when they speak with a listener in adverse listening conditions in naturalistic settings. Most previous studies assumed that when speakers speak more clearly, they maintain the style throughout the conversation. However, a clear speech style deviates from speakers’ conversational speaking style, and extra effort is required in order to produce clear speech. Therefore, it is possible that speakers begin a conversation in a clear speaking style and revert back to a conversational style at some point during the conversation. This study aims to examine whether native English speakers use and maintain a clear speaking style while participating in a conversation with non-native speakers in naturalistic settings. Native English listeners will respond to sentences from naturalistic conversations. The sentences are from either a conversation between two native English speakers or a conversation between a native English speaker and a non-native En...