Spoken Word Production

Abstract

This chapter examines two distinct stages of the production of spoken words: the retrieval of semantic and lexical representations, followed by morphological and phonological processing. In both cases, it summarizes models of lexical representation and lexical selection that have focused on the retrieval of single words. These models agree that different lexical information becomes available at different points in time, with access to semantic and syntactic information preceding access to information about lexical form. The structure of this review reflects this dichotomy. Comprehensive production models must also account for the sequencing and timing of lexical processing in multiword utterances and for the effects of utterance context on the planning of lexical forms; thus, this review also addresses the issue of lexical integration in longer utterances. Empirical evidence from a range of paradigms is reviewed, including single-object naming paradigms, interference paradigms, and paradigms eliciting full sentences.