Free classification as a method for investigating the perception of nonnative sounds

Abstract Our study proposes the use of a free classification task for investigating dimensions used by listeners in their perception nonnative sounds and predicting perceptual discriminability contrasts. In task, participants freely group auditory stimuli based on perceived similarity. The results can be to predict compared various acoustic or phonological determine relevant cues listeners. viability this method was examined both segmental contrast (German vowels) nonsegmental (Finnish phonemic length). Perceptual similarity data from accurately predicted an oddity separately provided rich information how space is shaped. These suggest that related analyses are informative replicable methods examining speech perception.