Processing dependencies between segmental and suprasegmental features in Mandarin Chinese

Authors: Tong, Yunxia¹; Francis, Alexander²; Gandour, Jackson²

Source: Language and Cognitive Processes, Volume 23, Number 5, December 2007 , pp. 689-708(20)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The aim of this study was to examine processing interactions between segmental (consonant, vowel) and suprasegmental (tone) dimensions of Mandarin Chinese. Using a speeded classification paradigm, processing interactions were examined between each pair of dimensions. Listeners were asked to attend to one dimension while ignoring the variation along another. Asymmetric interference effects were observed between segmental and suprasegmental dimensions, with segmental dimensions interfering more with tone classification than the reverse. Among the three dimensions, vowels exerted greater interference on consonants and tones than vice versa. Comparisons between each pair of dimensions revealed greater integrality between tone and vowel than between tone and consonant. Findings suggest that the direction and degree of interference between segmental and suprasegmental dimensions in spoken word recognition reflect differences in acoustic properties as well as other factors of an informational nature.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01690960701728261

Affiliations: 1: Department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA,National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA 2: Department of Speech Language Hearing Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Publication date: 2007-12-01

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