Processing dependencies of segmental and suprasegmental information: effects of emotion, lexical tone, and consonant variation

Abstract

ABSTRACTHuman speech carries segmental (phonemic) as well as suprasegmental (non-phonemic) detail. The current study aims to determine the extent to which processing dependencies between segmental and suprasegmental cues are influenced by phonological and communicative relevance in the native language. In the present study, processing interactions between segmental (consonant) and two types of suprasegmental cues (lexical tone and emotion) were examined in Mandarin and English speakers using a speeded classification paradigm. Results revealed a distinct pattern of responses for each group: for both tone and emotion, Mandarin speakers demonstrated mutual and symmetrical processing dependencies. By contrast, English speakers exhibited reduced interference from suprasegmental tone variation on segmental processing than vice versa. However, English speakers exhibited greater interference from suprasegmental emotion judgements on segmental processing than vice versa. Results point to cross-linguistic differences in how suprasegmental cues are weighted and are discussed in terms of current models of the adult lexicon.