Perceiving word structure in time: cross-linguistic evidence from English and Spanish
Clara Cohen, Matthew T. Carlson, Paola E. Dussias · 2026
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Description
Clara Cohen, Matthew Carlson, and Paola Dussias test how listeners hear word structure in English and Spanish in a 2026 study. Speech timing carries clues to structure: adding syllables shortens the first one, and adding a plural ending squeezes the sounds before it.
Eye-tracking experiments watched where listeners looked as words unfolded. English listeners used both kinds of timing cues, though grammar context shifted their use of the second. Spanish listeners, whatever their English experience, were more sensitive to the squeeze cue than English listeners. The authors link that edge to Spanish grammar, which leans far more on agreement endings, training its speakers to track small sound changes.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Clara Cohen, Matthew T. Carlson, Paola E. Dussias |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 121 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |