Statistical learning Phonological development
infants able extract meaningful distinctions in language exposed statistical properties of language. example, if english-learning infants exposed prevoiced /d/ voiceless unaspirated /t/ continuum (similar /d/ - /t/ distinction in spanish) majority of tokens occurring near endpoints of continuum, i.e., showing extreme prevoicing versus long voice onset times (bimodal distribution) better @ discriminating these sounds infants exposed tokens center of continuum (unimodal distribution).
these results show @ age of 6 months infants sensitive how sounds occur in language exposed , can learn cues important pay attention these differences in frequency of occurrence. in natural language exposure means typical sounds in language (such prevoiced /d/ in spanish) occur , infants can learn them mere exposure them in speech hear. of occurs before infants aware of meaning of of words exposed to, , therefore phenomenon of statistical learning has been used argue fact infants can learn sound contrasts without meaning being attached them.
at 6 months, infants able make use of prosodic features of ambient language break speech stream exposed meaningful units, e.g., better able distinguish sounds occur in stressed vs. unstressed syllables. means @ 6 months infants have knowledge of stress patterns in speech exposed , have learned these patterns meaningful.
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