Automatic Process for Foreign Language (English) Listening: Perspectives on Perceptual Units of Speech and Native Language Interference

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K02944
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Sugai Kosuke 近畿大学, 経済学部, 教授 (90454636)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 横川 博一 神戸大学, 大学教育推進機構, 教授 (50340427)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 音声言語知覚 / 知覚単位 / モーラ / ワーキングメモリ / 発話速度 / 持続時間長 / 短期記憶

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research project, the aim was to elucidate the perception and cognition process of English learners whose native language is Japanese, and to clarify the perceptual units of language that are essential for this purpose. A study was conducted on the existence of mora, which plays a significant role in the language perception of native Japanese speakers (Sugai, 2017). The results indicated a strong possibility of a mora boundary around 250 ms. Additionally, an investigation was conducted to explore the potential variability of perceptual units in speech due to speaking rate. The results suggested that slower speaking rates (with longer mora duration) may perceive one mora unit, while faster speaking rates (with shorter mora duration) may perceive two mora units. However, as there was variation in the results depending on the research methods employed, further investigation is needed to validate these findings.

Free Research Field

心理言語学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、外国語を学習する際に、かなり習熟度の高い学習者であっても、母語の音韻・処理の影響を受けるという知見にもとづいている。さまざまな外国語習得・学習の理論があるが、音声言語の知覚・認識・理解のプロセスを理解するうえで、日本語母語話者による音声言語の知覚の最小単位の実態にせまることは意味があることだと考えられる。また、発話速度によってワーキングメモリのチャンクを構成する単位が変動するという考え方は、認知心理学における記憶研究に一つの可能性を示すものとなるかもしれない。