TY - JOUR
T1 - Why listening in background noise is harder in a non-native language than in a native language
T2 - A review
AU - Scharenborg, Odette
AU - van Os, Marjolein
N1 - Accepted author manuscript
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - There is ample evidence that recognising words in a non-native language is more difficult than in a native language, even for those with a high proficiency in the non-native language involved, and particularly in the presence of background noise. Why is this the case? To answer this question, this paper provides a systematic review of the literature on non-native spoken-word recognition in the presence of background noise, and posits an updated theory on the effect of background noise on native and non-native spoken-word recognition. The picture that arises is that although spoken-word recognition in the presence of background noise is harder in a non-native language than in one's native language, this difference is not due to a differential effect of background noise on native and non-native listening. Rather, it can be explained by differences in language exposure, which influences the uptake and use of phonetic and contextual information in the speech signal for spoken-word recognition.
AB - There is ample evidence that recognising words in a non-native language is more difficult than in a native language, even for those with a high proficiency in the non-native language involved, and particularly in the presence of background noise. Why is this the case? To answer this question, this paper provides a systematic review of the literature on non-native spoken-word recognition in the presence of background noise, and posits an updated theory on the effect of background noise on native and non-native spoken-word recognition. The picture that arises is that although spoken-word recognition in the presence of background noise is harder in a non-native language than in one's native language, this difference is not due to a differential effect of background noise on native and non-native listening. Rather, it can be explained by differences in language exposure, which influences the uptake and use of phonetic and contextual information in the speech signal for spoken-word recognition.
KW - Background noise
KW - Cognitive processes
KW - Non-native
KW - Spoken-word recognition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062901786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.specom.2019.03.001
DO - 10.1016/j.specom.2019.03.001
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85062901786
SN - 0167-6393
VL - 108
SP - 53
EP - 64
JO - Speech Communication
JF - Speech Communication
ER -