The effects of lexical and phonological factors on talker processing

Abstract

Previous research has shown that listeners are better at processing talker information in their native language compared to an unfamiliar language, a phenomenon known as the Language Familiarity Effect. Several studies have explored the cause of this effect. Some have argued that it is tied to the lexicon and the ability to comprehend, while others have suggested that it is the familiarity with the phonology. In the current study, we use an AX discrimination task to test these two factors simultaneously by manipulating lexical status (words/nonwords) and phonotactic probability (high/low). We also test individual differences in reading ability, as poor phonological awareness skills are linked to reading impairment. Twenty-four native speakers of American English completed the AX task and a battery of phonological awareness tasks. Reaction time results revealed an interaction between lexical status and phonotactic probability: words with high phonotactic probability were processed faster than words with low phonotactic probability, but no difference was found for the nonwords. Sensitivity (A’) revealed no effects of lexical status or phonotactic probability, but did reveal that listeners with higher reading scores were more sensitive to talker differences.