Production and Perception of Voice-onset Time (VOT): Evidences for Motor Theory of Speech Perception, Language Acquisition, and Speech Disorders

This paper examines, analyzes, and synthesizes literature on VOT production and perception in the context of Motor Theory of speech perception. Specifically, positive and negative evidences from speech production and perception, language acquisition, and evidence of dissociation from speech disorders of VOT are reviewed in the light of the Necessity Condition versus a weaker version of motor theory suggested by Hickok and Poeppel (2004), which postulates that the mapping of sensory representations of speech onto motor representations may not be an automatic consequence of speech perception, and indeed are not necessary for auditory comprehension (Hickok & Poeppel 2000), but can be activated and utilized strategically to assist in task performance. I. General Theory of Speech Production and Perception a. Motor theory of speech perception b. Evidence from normal adults c. Developmental evidence II. Production and Perception of Voice-onset Time (VOT) in Normal Individuals a. Acquisition of VOT b. Production and perception of VOT: categorical perception III. Production and Perception of Voice-onset Time (VOT) in Individuals with Speech Disorders a. Overview of neural correlates of speech production and perception and the types of aphasia b. Nature of VOT production errors in Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia c. Perception of VOT in aphasic patients d. Evidence for motor theory of VOT perception e. Evidence for dissociation between VOT production and perception f. Other Evidence for dissociation of production and perception