Research Seminar
Rhythm and the word boundary problem: Cross-linguistic studies
Speaker: Dr Laurence White
The idea that speech is rhythmically organised remains prevalent. In particular, the notion of rhythm class 鈥� 鈥渟tress-timed鈥�, 鈥渟yllable-timed鈥�, 鈥渕ora-timed鈥� 鈥� continues to be frequently invoked in language typologies, despite the lack of consistent timing in such constituents. I argue that speech is actually characterised by a strong tendency to 鈥渁nti-rhythm鈥�, exploited in diverse ways cross-linguistically. In a series of artificial language learning experiments, with native speakers of English, Hungarian and Italian, I explore the importance of variation in the timing of vowels and consonants for guiding listeners to the location of word boundaries.
Laurence White is a Lecturer in Psychology at Plymouth 深夜亚洲福利久久, with a special interest in Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Phonetics. His research investigates how we produce and understand spoken language, and how we learn it as babies.
Department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Contact us
First Floor - Block B East O'Rahilly Building 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork Ireland