Authors:

Warren, P. & Marslen-Wilson, W.D.

Reference:

Year of publication:

1988

CBU number:

2155

Abstract:

Two experiments used the gating paradigm to investigate the manner in which acoustic-phonetic information is mapped onto the lexical level during the processes of lexical access and selection. The first experiment showed a continuous uptake of durational cues, testing the identification across successive 25 msec gates of monosyllables contrasting in word-final voicing. The second experiment expanded upon earlier research into the uptake of partial cues in the spectral domain, showing strong effects at vowel closure on the choice between word-candidates terminating in different places of articulation. The results were interpreted as suggesting a contrast between symmetric and asymmetric decision processes, with phonological structure being the potential source of asymmetries in the lexical interpretation of acoustic cues.