Structure of confusions in short-term memory between English consonants.

Abstract

Data on confusions in short-term memory between English consonants [W. A. Wickelgren, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 39, 388–398 (1966)] have been reanalyzed within the framework of binary features. A new method of analysis is described that involves a similarity metric. The method produces an evaluation of individual features and associates a confidence level with each statement made about the data. With a confidence level greater than 0.99, it is shown that long frication, continuant, sonorant, sibilant, and voiced are features present in the data of Wickelgren. The issues of feature independence, completeness of a feature system, and the derivation of optimal features are treated. The advantages of the similarity metric over rank-order statistics, multidimensional scaling, and information transfer are discussed.