Contribution of pitch-accent information to Japanese spoken-word recognition

要旨

This paper investigates the contribution of pitch-accent information to Japanese spoken-word recognition. Pitch accent of spoken words was manipulated by controlling F0. First, the present author investigated the relation between word intelligibility in the presence of noise and the adequacy of accent type in those words. In the intelligibility test, participants were presented with speech stimuli and a pink noise together, and were required to identify the word. In the rating test, the same participants were presented with the same speech stimuli and were required to rate the adequacy of the words’ accent types. Results indicated that the spoken words with more adequate accent type were more intelligible in the presence of noise. Next, the present author investigated the relation between reaction time in shadowing words and the adequacy of accent type in those words. In the shadowing task, the participants were required to shadow a word whose accent type was manipulated as soon as they identified it. The same participants participated in the rating test. The reaction time in the case of the words with an adequate accent was shorter than in the case of an inadequate one. These results support the hypothesis that pitch-accent information in Japanese spoken words might facilitate word recognition.

主題