Temporal regularity in speech perception: Is regularity beneficial or deleterious?

Abstract

Speech rhythm is of crucial importance for correct speech perception and language learning; for example, the specific rhythm is among the first things infants learn about their native language (Ramus, 2000). This study aimed to investigate the importance of speech rhythm in second language learning. German pseudosentences were presented to subjects in two conditions: spoken with a normal conversational speech rhythm versus with a speech rhythm containing a temporally regular beat. Nine native English speakers with 3.5±1.6 years of German training repeated each sentence after hearing it once over headphones. Responses were transcribed using to the IPA and analyzed for the number of correct, false, and missing consonants, as well as for consonant intrusions. The over-all number of correct reproductions of consonants did not differ between the two experimental conditions. However, the experimental condition comprising a normal conversational speech rhythm resulted in significantly fewer consonant intrusions than the condition containing a beat. These results highlight the importance of speech rhythm in language perception/production and suggest, in particular, that second language learning may be facilitated by language-specific temporal grouping.