Project Description
When we pronounce words out loud, some consonant and vowel sounds are the product of active phonological rules, while others are not. For example, the "t" sound in "sweeter" comes from an obligatory rule that changes the "t" sound in the root "sweet", but the "t" sound in "liter" does not come from any such rule. This suggests that, depending upon the word, listeners may respond very differently to these otherwise identical "t" sounds. The purpose of this research project is to investigate this hypothesis by conducting a series of experiments in which we ask native speakers of English to make perceptual judgments about spoken consonants and vowels. The results will inform us about how word structure affects perception.
Tasks and Responsibilites
Recruit and run participants. Assist in development of experiments.