Research interests

The research interests of our lab lie in human speech processing in both production and perception. There are three main research lines:

1. Dialectal variation in speech processing
This line of research intends to investigate the distribution of dialectal variation and its underlying cause in Taiwan Mandarin. The focus of interest includes both production and perception. We are particularly interested in how knowledge of one dialect/language can influence one's production and perception of another dialect/language. Recent projects include (1) tonal variation of Taiwan, (2) variation in retroflex realization in Taiwan, and (3) variation in final nasal merger in Taiwan.

2. Prosody and phonetic cues in spontaneous speech processing
This line of study focuses on how prosody and phonetic cues pattern with discourse structures in spontaneous speech, and how listeners take advantage of these cues in online speech processing. We are particularly interested in linguistic universality and uniqueness. Recent research projects include (1) cross-linguistically equivalent spontaneous speech corpus construction, and (2) production and perception of discourse boundary cues in spontaneous monologues.

3. L2 sound acquisition
This line of study focuses on L2 sound acquisition. We are particularly interested in how age of onset and proficiency influence learners' performance in speech production and perception. Recent research projects include (1) the effect of training on L2 sound perception, and (2) pitch-accent placement in L2 prosody.

4. Phonetic imitation and cognition

Phonetic convergence is an unconscious strategy that speakers often adopt when they are engaged in a conversation. Talkers increase their acoustic phonetic similarity as the conversation unfolds. Scholars have different speculations regarding its cause. Some claim that it is a way for talkers to modulate social distance, while others argue that it is an automatic process, reflecting the capacity of episodic memory. This line of study aims to investigate whether and how Taiwan Mandarin speakers show phonetic convergence using various variation rules. In order to probe into the cause of phonetic convergence, speakers of different age groups are recruited, as speaker groups differ both in their capacity for episodic

memory and need for social desirability. An additional group of patients suffering from the early stage Alzheimer’s disease is also intended. Since recent episodic memory loss is a signature for the disease, including the population would allow us to more thoroughly examine how memory plays a role in phonetic convergence, and have a more comprehensive understanding of the conversation strategies employed by Taiwan Mandarin speakers of different generations in the face of phonetic variation.