Cross-language Lexical-tone Identification

We examine how native lexical-tone experience influences identification of novel tone. Cantonese, Thai, Mandarin, and Yoruba listeners identified CV syllables bearing the six phonemic Cantonese tones. Overall tone accuracy scores and tone-error patterns were assessed. Consistent with previous reports, native listeners’ perception reflected effects of ongoing tonal mergers and acoustic similarities incurred by a crowded lower tone space [27]. Non-native listeners’ perception appeared to be influenced by L1 auditory experience, as they attended to acoustic and phonetic cues relevant to the phonological and phonetic properties of L1 tone categories. [Support: NSF grant 0965227 to J.A.A.]