Phonological Density Research Articles

Measuring the roles of variation and phonological density into the development of branching CCV onsets in Brazilian Portuguese

This study focuses on the acquisition of CCV syllables (Consonant1+Consonant2+Vowel) in Brazilian Portuguese. Our aim is to cast light on the roles of linguistic variation and phonological density into the phonotactic development. We used adult and child directed speech corpora to quantify the optional process of CCV→CV reduction in unstressed contexts in the input, as well as the frequency, segmental pattern, and phonological density of CCV syllables. Based in their distributional properties, we argue that CCV acquisition in BP goes through a moment of incorrect structural and segmental contrast neutralization, modelled by the Tolerance Principle (Yang 2006). The neutralization is caused by an overgeneralization of CCV variation, combined with CCV-CV low density; and an overgeneralization of the C/ɾ/V frequent segmental pattern, combined with the low density of C/ɾ/V-C/l/V but high density and equal frequency of /ɾ/V-/l/V.Data from a mispronunciation detection task confirms that the phonological density influences the development: children who do not articulate CCV syllables detect more CCV→CV stimuli when there are phonological neighbors (/pɾato/→[ˈpa.tʊ], but not /pɾeto/→*[ˈpe.tʊ]) and high phonological density ([l]V↔[ɾ]V are detected, but not C[l]V↔C[ɾ]V, with the lowest rates of detection in the C/l/V→C[ɾ]V direction).

Spoken word recognition in French

Different linguistic factors can influence the recognition of spoken words in French. We are interested in the impact of the linguistic factor of phonological density, which refers to the number of phonological neighbours of words and which is related to the recognition process according to a principle of inhibition and lexical competition. By using a lexical decision task, where half of the words have a low phonological density, and the other half a high phonological density, we aim to measure the reaction times of a group of young French-speaking participants (18-35 years old). The results of the young French-speaking group did not show a phonological density effect, however, these results did show a lexicality effect, demonstrating that the word and pseudo-word recognition task worked well. Thus, from the error analyses, the involvement of another factor, word familiarity, was induced. The post-experimental survey on this new factor showed an imbalance between the high and low density groups. By removing the low familiarity items from the analysis, a significant phonological density effect was obtained at this time. It is essential to discuss the role of word familiarity on spoken word recognition; as well as the material development for spoken word recognition tasks.

Comparing Lexical Cues in Listener Processing of Dysarthria and Speech in Noise.

Purpose The frequency of a word and its number of phonologically similar neighbors can dramatically affect how likely it is to be accurately identified in adverse listening conditions. This study compares how these two cues affect listeners' processing of speech in noise and dysarthric speech. Method Seven speakers with moderate hypokinetic dysarthria and eight healthy control speakers were recorded producing the same set of phrases. Statements from control speakers were mixed with noise at a level selected to match the intelligibility range of the speakers with dysarthria. A binomial mixed-effects model quantified the effects of word frequency and phonological density on word identification. Results The model revealed significant effects of word frequency (b = 0.37, SE = 0.12, p = .002) and phonological neighborhood density (b = 0.40, SE = 0.12, p = .001). There was no effect of speaking condition (i.e., dysarthric speech vs. speech in noise). However, a significant interaction was observed between speaking condition and word frequency (b = 0.26, SE = 0.04, p < .001). Conclusions The model's interactions indicated that listeners were more strongly influenced by the effects of word frequency when decoding moderate hypokinetic dysarthria as compared to speech in noise. Differences in listener reliance on lexical cues may have important implications for the selection of communication-based treatment strategies for speakers with dysarthria.

The ASL-LEX 2.0 Project: A Database of Lexical and Phonological Properties for 2,723 Signs in American Sign Language.

ASL-LEX is a publicly available, large-scale lexical database for American Sign Language (ASL). We report on the expanded database (ASL-LEX 2.0) that contains 2,723 ASL signs. For each sign, ASL-LEX now includes a more detailed phonological description, phonological density and complexity measures, frequency ratings (from deaf signers), iconicity ratings (from hearing non-signers and deaf signers), transparency (“guessability”) ratings (from non-signers), sign and videoclip durations, lexical class, and more. We document the steps used to create ASL-LEX 2.0 and describe the distributional characteristics for sign properties across the lexicon and examine the relationships among lexical and phonological properties of signs. Correlation analyses revealed that frequent signs were less iconic and phonologically simpler than infrequent signs and iconic signs tended to be phonologically simpler than less iconic signs. The complete ASL-LEX dataset and supplementary materials are available at https://osf.io/zpha4/ and an interactive visualization of the entire lexicon can be accessed on the ASL-LEX page: http://asl-lex.org/.

Promoting Speech Intelligibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder through the Implementation of Phonologically Similar Stimuli

Objectives: The study focused on promoting expressive phonological skills in 1 Greek-speaking child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid speech sound disorder (SSD). Based on the phonological neighborhood density framework, it was hypothesized that the experimental manipulation through clinical implementation of phonologically overlapping stimuli would yield positive expressive phonology gains relevant to ASD. Participant and Methods: A multiple-baseline single-subject design was implemented. Three baseline sessions measured expressive phonology variables. Sixteen biweekly 30-min intervention sessions were carried out for a period of 2 months. Dependent variables included phonetic inventory size, proportion of consonants correct, occurrences of phonological processes, and percentage of whole word matches elicited via specific word probe stimuli. The Intelligibility in Context Scale was completed by the child’s teacher prior to the initiation of intervention and at a follow-up session. Experimental stimuli were grouped together in phonologically dense cohorts. Results: Comparison between pre-test and post-test measures revealed expressive phonology gains across all measured variables. Follow-up session results showed generalization of expressive phonology gains on untreated targets. Conclusions: Significant expressive phonology gains were achieved through the implementation of phonologically similar word stimuli within a systematic intervention protocol with the implementation of specific word-level variables. The findings supported this treatment approach for a child with ASD and SSD, while providing evidence for the phonological density advantage from a cross-linguistic perspective.

Promoting speech intelligibility through phonologically dense targets

ABSTRACTThis multiple baseline single-case study focused on the implementation of two theoretically motivated models relevant to speech sound disorders (SSD): (1) complexity approach and (2) phonological density neighborhood variable. The complexity approach perspective predicted that complex intervention target stimuli would yield greater phonological gains on more complex targets after systematic phonological intervention. Furthermore, phonologically dense targets would promote speech intelligibility as these stimuli ‘tax’ productive outputs demand on par with complexity approach. A 4; 6 year-old Greek-speaking male diagnosed with a SSD received phonological intervention for 6 months. Therapy goals included: (1) the reduction of phonological process use and (2) the improvement of output intelligibility. Phonological gains were revealed in cluster reduction leading in increases in the proportion of consonant correct use and improvements in the use of correct whole word matches. Phonological gains were observed for untreated word stimuli. Our findings support the synergistic relationship of Complexity Approach and Phonological Density variable in promoting positive speech outcomes and effectiveness of phonological intervention in the child examined.

Orthographic and phonological neighborhood effects in handwritten word perception.

In printed-word perception, the orthographic neighborhood effect (i.e., faster recognition of words with more neighbors) has considerable theoretical importance, because it implicates great interactivity in lexical access. Mulatti, Reynolds, and Besner Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 32, 799-810 (2006) questioned the validity of orthographic neighborhood effects, suggesting that they reflect a confound with phonological neighborhood density. They reported that, when phonological density is controlled, orthographic neighborhood effects vanish. Conversely, phonological neighborhood effects were still evident even when controlling for orthographic neighborhood density. The present study was a replication and extension of Mulatti et al. (2006), with words presented in four different formats (computer-generated print and cursive, and handwritten print and cursive). The results from Mulatti et al. (2006) were replicated with computer-generated stimuli, but were reversed with natural stimuli. These results suggest that, when ambiguity is introduced at the level of individual letters, top-down influences from lexical neighbors are increased.

Interaction between phonological and semantic representations: time matters.

Computational modeling and eye-tracking were used to investigate how phonological and semantic information interact to influence the time course of spoken word recognition. We extended our recent models (Chen & Mirman, 2012; Mirman, Britt, & Chen, 2013) to account for new evidence that competition among phonological neighbors influences activation of semantically related concepts during spoken word recognition (Apfelbaum, Blumstein, & McMurray, 2011). The model made a novel prediction: Semantic input modulates the effect of phonological neighbors on target word processing, producing an approximately inverted-U-shaped pattern with a high phonological density advantage at an intermediate level of semantic input-in contrast to the typical disadvantage for high phonological density words in spoken word recognition. This prediction was confirmed with a new analysis of the Apfelbaum etal. data and in a visual world paradigm experiment with preview duration serving as a manipulation of strength of semantic input. These results are consistent with our previous claim that strongly active neighbors produce net inhibitory effects and weakly active neighbors produce net facilitative effects.

Effects of Phonological Neighborhood Density on Accuracy of Picture Naming in Aphasia

Effects of Phonological Neighborhood Density on Accuracy of Picture Naming in Aphasia

The ageing neighbourhood: phonological density in naming

Ageing affects the ability to retrieve words for production, despite maintenance of lexical knowledge. In this study, we investigate the influence of lexical variables on picture naming accuracy and latency in adults ranging in age from 22 to 86 years. In particular, we explored the influence of phonological neighbourhood density, which has been shown to exert competitive effects on word recognition, but to facilitate word production, a finding with implications for models of the lexicon. Naming responses were slower and less accurate for older participants, as expected. Target frequency also played a strong role, with facilitative frequency effects becoming stronger with age. Neighbourhood density interacted with age, such that naming was slower for high-density than low-density items, but only for older subjects. Explaining this finding within an interactive activation model suggests that, as we age, the ability of activated neighbours to facilitate target production diminishes, while their activation puts them in competition with the target.

Examining the phonological neighborhood density effect using near infrared spectroscopy

Phonological density refers to the number of words that can be generated by replacing a phoneme in a target word with another phoneme in the same position. Although the precise nature of the phonological neighborhood density effect is not firmly established, many behavioral psycholinguistic studies have shown that visual recognition of individual words is influenced by the number and type of neighbors the words have. This study explored neurobehavioral correlates of phonological neighborhood density in skilled readers of English using near infrared spectroscopy. On the basis of a lexical decision task, our findings showed that words with many phonological neighbors (e.g., FRUIT) were recognized more slowly than words with few phonological neighbors (e.g., PROOF), and that words with many neighbors elicited significantly greater changes in blood oxygenation in the left than in the right hemisphere of the brain, specifically in the areas BA 22/39/40. In previous studies these brain areas have been implicated in fine-grained phonological processing in readers of English. The present findings provide the first demonstration that areas BA 22/39/40 are also sensitive to phonological density effects.

The Aging Neighborhood: Phonological Density in Word Retrieval

The Aging Neighborhood: Phonological Density in Word Retrieval

Provas de nomeação e imitação como instrumentos de diagnóstico do transtorno fonológico

phonological disorder. to verify the association between the phonological performance in picture naming and imitation tasks, assessing the occurrence of phonological processes and using the severity indexes of Percentage of Correct Consonants and Phonological Density Index. participants of this research were 50 phonologically disordered children, with no history of prior speech-language therapy and with ages between 4:0 and 12 years. The analysis of the phonological processes indicated that the non-productive processes were more frequent than the productive ones, not only in the imitation task but also in the picture naming task. It was observed that in both tasks, most participants presented the phonological processes of cluster reduction, liquid simplification and final consonant deletion, independently of their productivity. When comparing both tasks, there was an association and agreement regarding the number of participants who presented phonological processes as well as a correlation regarding the total number of phonological processes; there was no evidence of differences concerning the averages of the phonological processes observed in the imitation and picture naming tasks; a negative correlation was observed between the severity indexes Percentage of Correct Consonants and Phonological Density Index; moreover, these values presented a strong correlation in both tests, indicating that they detect similar severity levels. the study verified an association and agreement between the picture naming and imitation tasks, not only for the number of participants who presented phonological processes, but also for the number of phonological processes, thus indicating the importance of using structured tests for the diagnosis of phonological disorder. Furthermore, for the severity indexes, Percentage of Correct Consonants and Phonological Density Index, a high correlation was observed between the tasks, indicating that both tasks are useful instruments in detecting phonological disorder.

Neighborhood effects in reading aloud: New findings and new challenges for computational models.

A word from a dense neighborhood is often read aloud faster than a word from a sparse neighborhood. This advantage is usually attributed to orthography, but orthographic and phonological neighbors are typically confounded. Two experiments investigated the effect of neighborhood density on reading aloud when phonological density was varied while orthographic density was held constant, and vice versa. A phonological neighborhood effect was observed, but not an orthographic one. These results are inconsistent with the predominant role ascribed to orthographic neighbors in accounts of visual word recognition and reading aloud. Consistent with this interpretation, 6 different computational models of reading aloud failed to simulate this pattern of results. The results of the present experiments thus provide a new understanding of some of the processes underlying reading aloud, and new challenges for computational models.