Authors:

Gaskell, M.G. & MARSLEN-WILSON, W.D.

Reference:

Year of publication:

2001

CBU number:

4185

Abstract:

Phonological variation in speech production can neutralize phonemic distinctions. In some cases, the alternations also create lexical ambiguity, as in the sentence "A quick rum picks you up," where the underlined sequence could be interpreted as either rum or as a place assimilated form of run. Three cross-modal priming experiments examined the perceptual resolution of these ambiguities. In a neutral-bias sentential context, these stimuli contact only the lexical representation matching the surface form (rum). However, a sentential context favoring run combines with the phonological environment of an ambiguous token to allow the alternative form (run) to be accessed. We discuss how phonological, lexical, and sentential information may be integrated in order to resolve these ambiguities, and we argue that the same perceptual mechanism underlies both spoken word recognition and lexical ambiguity resolution.