Speech rate and accent influences the time-course of semantic knowledge activation in spoken word recognition

One lexical decision and two visual world paradigm experiments examined the influence of speaking rate and accentedness on access to semantic information during spoken word recognition. Results indicate that availability to semantic knowledge is more salient when listeners hear accented speech rather than native speech. In addition, the effect of semantic knowledge on spoken word recognition was primarily found in the onset of spoken words for fast speech, while in slow speech the effect of semantic information was sustained throughout processing. These results indicate that speech rate modulates the competition process among phonological competitors. Words spoken at a fast rate led to a quick resolution of the competition process by limiting the amount of inhibition on the target word from other phonological competitors. Words presented at a slow rate led to more prolonged activation pattern due to increased inhibition from competitors. These results indicate that semantic knowledge is actively involved in the process of spoken word recognition, and that acoustic-phonetic properties of the spoken speech modulate the effects of meaning.