General Language Ability Predicts Talker Identification
نویسندگان
چکیده
Individuals can use both linguistic and non-linguistic features of the speech signal to identify talkers. For instance, listeners have more difficulty identifying talkers in unfamiliar languages compared to a native language (language familiarity effect), implying that language-specific knowledge aids talker identification. In the present study, the source of the language familiarity benefit on talker identification was investigated as listeners identified talkers in their native language as well as non-native languages. Experiment 1 was designed to explore the influence of L2 proficiency on talker identification across languages. Experiment 2 further investigated individual differences in L1 phonetic perception and their contribution to talker identification by comparing English listeners’ performance across different language conditions that varied in the availability of linguistic cues. Results imply that familiarity with a specific language (L1 or L2) did not explain individual variation in language familiarity effect. Rather, in addition to the native language benefit, talker identification may be supported by general sensitivity to sound structures in language, modulated by the availability of higher-level linguistic information.
منابع مشابه
Increased Left-hemisphere Contribution to Native- versus Foreign-language Talker Identification Revealed by Dichotic Listening
Previous studies of human listeners’ ability to identify speakers by voice have revealed a reliable language-familiarity effect: Listeners are better at identifying voices when they can understand the language being spoken. It has been claimed that talker identification is facilitated in a familiar language because of functional integration between the cognitive systems underlying speech and vo...
متن کاملGradient effects of reading ability on native and non-native talker identification
Talker identification is heightened for native compared to non-native talkers, suggesting that language comprehension influences talker recognition. Research has revealed a gradient effect of language experience on talker recognition; adults with reading disability show poor talker identification even in their native language. We examined whether this gradient would be observed among adults wit...
متن کاملThe impact of musical training and tone language experience on talker identification.
Listeners can use pitch changes in speech to identify talkers. Individuals exhibit large variability in sensitivity to pitch and in accuracy perceiving talker identity. In particular, people who have musical training or long-term tone language use are found to have enhanced pitch perception. In the present study, the influence of pitch experience on talker identification was investigated as lis...
متن کاملDifferential neural contributions to native- and foreign-language talker identification.
Humans are remarkably adept at identifying individuals by the sound of their voice, a behavior supported by the nervous system's ability to integrate information from voice and speech perception. Talker-identification abilities are significantly impaired when listeners are unfamiliar with the language being spoken. Recent behavioral studies describing the language-familiarity effect implicate f...
متن کاملReading ability influences native and non-native voice recognition, even for unimpaired readers.
Research suggests that phonological ability exerts a gradient influence on talker identification, including evidence that adults and children with reading disability show impaired talker recognition for native and non-native languages. The present study examined whether this relationship is also observed among unimpaired readers. Learning rate and generalization of learning in a talker identifi...
متن کامل