Native phonological processing abilities predict post-consolidation nonnative contrast learning in adults.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between native phonological processing ability and the learning outcome of a trained nonnative (Hindi /ɖ/ - / d̪/) contrast. Participants were perceptually trained and assessed in the evening, and reassessed early the next morning. Native phonological processing ability did not predict the learning of the nonnative contrasts on Day 1. However, after a period of post-training sleep, Blending ability predicted nonnative Discrimination performance, and Nonword Repetition predicted nonnative Identification. These findings may point to similarities between processes involved in maintaining native phonological representations and that in the retention of nonnative acoustic-phonetic features in adulthood.