The effect of dialectal variation on word recognition
A case from Taiwan Southern Min
Previous studies on Chinese dialect variation have mostly focused on the description of dialects, the regions where these dialects are spoken, attitudes towards dialects, and acoustic differences across dialects. The present study draws on experimental evidence concerning a vowel difference in two Taiwan Southern Min (TSM) dialects to provide more understanding on how non-contrastive, dialectal variations may affect speakers’ processing of speech. The variation of interest is a phonemic difference, [ə] and [ɔ], in the vowel inventory in two TSM dialects, in which the difference signals a lexical contrast in one dialect (e.g. [ə-a] ‘oyster’ vs. [ɔ-a] ‘taro’) but not in the other ([ɔ-a] ‘oyster, taro’). A long-term repetition-priming experiment investigating the word recognition involving the two vowels revealed a dialect effect on TSM speakers’ word recognition in accordance with prior exposure, native-ness and variant frequency. Implications of the findings are provided.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Background
- 3.The target dialects in Taiwanese Southern Min
- 4.Experiment
- 4.1Methodology
- 4.1.1Participants
- 4.1.2Design and materials
- 4.1.3Procedure
- 4.2Results
- 4.2.1Acoustic analyses
- 4.2.2Lexical decision results
- 5.Discussion and conclusion
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
-
References
References (44)
References
Ang, Ui-jin. 2003. Yinbian de dongji yu fangxiang: Zhang-Quan jingzheng yu Taiwan putungqiang de xingcheng [The motivation and direction of sound change: On the competition of Minnan dialects Chang-chou and Chuan-chou, and the emergence of general Taiwanese]. Hsinchu: National Tsing Hua University. (Doctoral dissertation.)![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ang, Ui-jin. 2013. Taiwan de yuzhong fenbu yu fenqu. [The distribution and regionalization of varieties in Taiwan]. Language and Linguistics 14(2). 315–369.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Baayen, R. & Davidson, D. & Bates, D. 2008. Mixed-effects modeling with crossed random effects for subjects and items. Journal of Memory and Language 591. 390–412. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Babel, Molly & Johnson, Keith. 2010. Accessing psycho-acoustic perception and language-specific perception with speech sounds. Laboratory Phonology 11. 179–205. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Babel, Molly & Russell, Jamie. 2015. Expectations and speech intelligibility. Journal of Acoustical Society of America 1371. 2823–2833. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Bates, Douglas & Mächler, Martin & Bolker, Benjamin & Walker, Steve. 2015. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software 67(1). 1–48. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Boersma, Paul. 2001. Praat, a system for doing phonetics by computer. Glot International 51. 341–345.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Boomershine, Amanda & Hall, Kathleen Currie & Hume, Elizabeth & Johnson, Keith. 2008. The impact of allophony versus contrast on speech perception. In Avery, Peter & Dresher, Elan & Rice, Keren (eds.), Contrast in Phonology, 145–171. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chen, Shu-chuan. 2009. Taiwan Minnanyu yuanyin xitong ji yin-yang rushengdiao de bianyi yu bianhua-Taiwan Minnanyu de zibiao diaocha fenxi [The vowel system change and the Yin-/Yang-entering tonal variations in Taiwanese Hokkien]. Journal of Taiwanese Languages and Literature 31. 157–178.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chen, Shu-chuan. 2010. Taiwan Minnanyu xinxing de yuyin bianyi-Taibeishi, Zhanghuashi ji Tainanshi yuanyin xitong yu yangru yuandiao de diaocha fenxi [New sound variation in Taiwan Southern Min: Vowel systems and the lower register entering tone in Taipei, Changhua, and Tainan]. Language and Linguistics 11(2). 425–468.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chomsky, Noam & Halle, Morris. 1968. The sound pattern of English. Cambridge: Harper & Row.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chuang, Yu-Ying. 2017. The effect of phonetic variation on word recognition in Taiwan Mandarin. Taipei: National Taiwan University. (Doctoral dissertation.)![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Chung, Raung-fu. 1996. The segmental phonology of Southern Min in Taiwan. Taipei: Crane Publishing Co., Ltd..![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Clements, G. N. 2003. Feature economy in sound systems. Phonology 201. 287–333. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Connine, Cynthia M. & Blasko, Dawn G. & Titione, Debra. 1993. Do the beginnings of spoken words have a special status in auditory word recognition? Journal of Memory and Language 321. 193–210. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Connine, Cynthia M. & Pinnow, Eleni. 2006. Phonological variation in spoken word recognition: Episodes and abstractions. The Linguistic Review 231. 235–245. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Connine, Cynthia M. & Titone, Debra & Deelman, Thomas & Blasko, Dawn. 1997. Similarity mapping in spoken word recognition. Journal of Memory and Language 371. 463–480. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Fon, Janice & Hung, Jui-mei & Huang, Yi-Hsuan & Hsu, Hui-ju. 2011. Dialectal variations on syllable-final nasal mergers in Taiwan Mandarin. Language and Linguistics 12(2). 273–311.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Fox, John. 2003. Effect displays in R for generalised linear models. Journal of Statistical Software 8(15). 1–27. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Garcia, Christina & Campos-Astorkiza, Rebeka. 2015. Allophonic perception in Spanish: The case of intervocalic /s/ voicing. (Paper presented at the Phonetics and Phonology in Europe 2015, Cambridge, 29–30 June 2015.)
Hsieh, Feng-fan. 2006. High infidelity: The non-mapping of Japanese accent onto Taiwanese tone. MIT Working Papers in Linguistics 521. 1–27.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Hsu, Hui-ju. 2016. Biandong zhong de Taiyu: Taiyu /o/ yinsu sanzhong zhuyao duyin de xianzhuang fenxi. [The dynamics of Taiwanese – the analysis of the Taiwanese phoneme /o/]. Dongwu Zhongwen Xuebao [Soochow Journal of Chinese Studies] 311. 303–328.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jaeger, Jeri J. 1980. Testing the psychological reality of phonemes. Language and Speech 231. 233–253. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Jaeger, Jeri J. 1986. Concept formation as a tool for linguistic research. In Ohala, John J. & Jaeger, Jeri J. (eds.), Experimental Phonology, 211–237. Orlando: Academic Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Johnson, Keith & Babel, Molly. 2010. On the perceptual basis of distinctive features: Evidence from the perception of fricatives by Dutch and English speakers. Journal of Phonetics 381. 127–136. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kenstowicz, Michael & Kisseberth, Charles. 1979. Generative phonology: Description and theory. New York: Academic Press.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Keuleers, Emmanuel & Diependaele, Kevin & Brysbaert, Marc. 2010. Practice effects in large-scale visual word recognition studies: A lexical decision study on 14,000 Dutch mono-and disyllabic words and nonwords. Frontier in Psychology 1. No. 174. 1–15.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Kuznetsova, Alexandra & Brockhoff, Per Bruun & Christensen, Rune Haubo Bojesen. 2016. lmerTest: Test in linear mixed effects models. Journal of Statistical Software 82(13). 1–26.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lee, Chao-Yang. 2007. Does horse activate mother? Processing lexical tone in form priming. Language and Speech 501. 101–123. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lenth, Russell V. 2016. Least-squares means: The R package lsmeans, Journal of Statistical Software 69(1). 1–33. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Lu, Yu-An. 2014. Mandarin fricatives redux: The psychological reality of phonological representations. Journal of East Asian Linguistics 231. 43–69. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Mackenzie, Sara & Olson, Erin & Clayards, Meghan & Wagner, Michael. 2014. Allophonic variation in English /l/: Production, perception, and segmentation. (Paper presented at the 2014 Canadian Linguistic Association conference, St. Catharines, 24–26 May 2014.)
Pallier, Christophe & Colomé, Angels & Sebastián-Gallés, Núria. 2001. The influence of native-language phonology on lexical access: Examplar-based versus abstract lexical entries. Psychological Science 121. 445–449. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Patterson, D. & Connine, Cynthia M. 2001. Variant frequency in flap production: A corpus analysis of variant frequency in American English flap production. Phonetica 581. 254–275. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Radeau, Monique & Morais, Jose & Segui, Juan. 1995. Phonological priming between monosyllabic spoken words. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 21(6). 1297–1311.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Ranbom, Larissa J. & Cynthia M. Connine. 2007. Lexical representation of phonological variation in spoken word recognition. Journal of Memory and Language 571. 273–298. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Schneider, Walter. & Eschman, Amy. & Zuccolotto, Anthony. 2002. E-Prime user’s guide. Pittsburgh: Psychology Software Tools.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sumner, Meghan & Samuel, Arthur G. 2005. Perception and representation of regular variation: The case of final /t/. Journal of Memory and Language 521. 322–338. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sumner, Meghan & Samuel, Arthur G. 2007. Lexical inhibition and sublexical facilitation are surprisingly long lasting. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 33(4). 769–790.![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Sumner, Meghan & Samuel, Arthur G. 2009. The effect of experience on the perception and representation of dialect variants. Journal of Memory and Language 601. 487–501. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Tsay, Jane & Myers, James. 2013. CCU Taiwanese Spoken Corpus. ([URL]) (Accessed 2019-05-03)
Whalen, D. H. & Best, Catherin T. & Irwin, Julia R. 1997. Lexical effects in the perception and production of American English /p/ allophones. Journal of Phonetics 251. 501–528. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)
Wickham, Hadley. 2009. ggplot2: Elegant graphics for data analysis. New York: Springer-Verlag. ![DOI logo](https://benjamins.com/logos/doi-logo.svg)
![Google Scholar](https://benjamins.com/logos/google-scholar.svg)