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Cited by 553Phonetics and Phonology ResearchLanguage Development and DisordersCategorization, perception, and language

Developmental Aspects of Cross-Language Speech Perception

Werker, Janet F., Gilbert, John H. V., Humphrey, Keith, Tees, Richard C.·1981·Child Development
DOI 10.2307/1129249
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Abstract

Previous research has suggested that infants discriminate many speech sounds according to phonemic category regardless of language exposure, while adults of one language group may have difficulty discriminating nonnative linguistic contrasts. Our study attempted to address directly questions about infant perceptual ability and the possibility of its decline as a function of development in the absence of specific experience by comparing English-speaking adults, Hindi-speaking adults, and 7-month-old infants on their ability to discriminate 2 pairs of natural Hindi (non-English) speech contrasts. To do this, infants were tested in a "visually reinforced infant speech discrimination" paradigm, while a variant of this paradigm was used to test adults. Support was obtained for the above hypotheses. Infants were shown to be able to discriminate both Hindi sound pairs, and support for the idea of a decrease in speech perceptual abilities wih age and experience was clearly evident with the rarer of the 2 non-English contrasts. The results were then discussed with respect to the possible nature and purpose of these abilities.

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  • Infants tested at 10 to 12 months of age fail to detect the difference between two foreign-language sounds that they could discriminate earlier in life.

    “Moreover, research shows that infants tested at 10 to 12 months of age fail to detect the difference between two foreign-language sounds that they could discriminate earlier in life (Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981).”

    From Human adults and human infants show a “perceptual magnet effect” for the prototypes of speech categories, monkeys do not (1991) · cites this paper as Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981

  • Effects of linguistic experience have previously been reported in 12-month-old infants.

    “Effects of linguistic experience have previously been reported in 12month-old infants (Werker et al., 1981; Werker & Tees, 1984);”

    From Human adults and human infants show a “perceptual magnet effect” for the prototypes of speech categories, monkeys do not (1991) · cites this paper as Werker et al., 1981

  • In previous research, English-learning infants aged 6-8 months can discriminate non-English Hindi and Thompson distinctions as well as native Hindi and Thompson speakers.

    “Initial results suggested that Englishlearning infants aged 6-8 months can discriminate these non-English distinctions as well as native Hindi and Thompson speakers, but that English-speaking adults (Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981) and Englishlearning infants aged 10-12 months (Werker & Tees, 1984a) cannot.”

    From Cross-language evidence for three factors in speech perception (1985) · cites this paper as Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981

  • English-speaking adults and English-learning infants aged 10-12 months cannot discriminate the non-English Hindi and Thompson distinctions.

    “Initial results suggested that Englishlearning infants aged 6-8 months can discriminate these non-English distinctions as well as native Hindi and Thompson speakers, but that English-speaking adults (Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981) and Englishlearning infants aged 10-12 months (Werker & Tees, 1984a) cannot.”

    From Cross-language evidence for three factors in speech perception (1985) · cites this paper as Werker, Gilbert, Humphrey, & Tees, 1981

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Authors
Werker, J. F., Gilbert, J. H. V., Humphrey, K., & Tees, R. C.
Affiliations
University of British Columbia (CA)
ORCID
Venue
Child Development
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1981-03
Volume
52
Issue
1
Pages
349
ISSN
0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.2307/1129249
OpenAlex
W2037751943
Cited by
553
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 62 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 14
FWCI
4.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Child Development (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Phonetics and Phonology Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Categorization, perception, and language
Keywords
cross-language speech perception, phonemic categories, perceptual narrowing, language experience, English-speaking adults
MeSH terms
Child Development, Discrimination Learning, Female, Humans, Infant, Language, Male, Phonetics, Speech Perception

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