Research on segmentals has suggested that a key component of High Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) is high
talker variability. However, the extent to which high talker variability improves perception of tones is unclear. This study
examined the effects of high talker variability on the perception of Mandarin tones (Tones 1–4) by English-speaking listeners. A
training paradigm that used multiple talkers (multitalker group) was compared with a paradigm that used one talker (single-talker
group). The results showed that the multitalker group outperformed the single-talker group, and they retained their learning
better than the single-talker group did for 6 months. Neither group, however, improved their perception of Tone 1 or generalized
their learning of monosyllables to disyllables. The results suggest that although high talker variability can effectively improve
tone perception, it does not improve the perception of more tone categories or yield generalization of learning to more contexts
compared to low talker variability.
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