Speech segmentation

Speech segmentation models and their importance - Whole-word access model - Decomposition model - Combined whole-word and decomposition model - Limited experimental evidence for discriminating between models - Contextual clues and probabilistic nature of lexical recognition - Decompositional analysis necessary for other processes - Contextual clues provided by lexical recognition - Example of probabilistic word completion - Different meanings depending on word segmentation - Potential for advanced pattern recognition and AI technologies Applications of lexical recognition - Enhancing computer speech recognition - Building and searching a network of semantically connected ideas - Statistical models for speech segmentation and alignment - Applications in animation, video sub-titling, and linguistic research - Availability of commercial segmentation and alignment software Phonotactic cues in speech segmentation - Difficulty in identifying boundaries between lexical units - Lack of pauses in normal speech - Coarticulation and its effect on vowel and consonant production - Language-specific changes in casual speech - Phonotactics as a guide for word boundary placement Phonotactic cues in different languages - English phonotactics inhibiting certain interpretations - Examples of phonotactic cues in English words - Vowel harmony in Finnish providing cues - Coexistence of vowel harmony and morphemes in compounds - Importance of phonotactic cues in distinguishing word boundaries Speech segmentation in infants and non-natives - Infants rely on phonotactic and rhythmic cues, with prosody being the dominant cue, for speech segmentation. - Between 6 and 9 months, infants become sensitive to the sound structure of their native language. - English-native infants approach stressed syllables as the beginning of words. - Infants can segment bisyllabic words with strong-weak stress patterns, but weak-strong stress patterns are often misinterpreted. - Infants show complexity in tracking frequency and probability of words. Note: The related concepts, challenges for language learners, and further research needed sections do not have identical concepts to be combined.