English vowel identification in long-term speech-shaped noise and multi-talker babble for English and Chinese listeners

J Acoust Soc Am. 2013 May;133(5):EL391-7. doi: 10.1121/1.4800191.

Abstract

The identification of 12 English vowels was measured in quiet and in long-term speech-shaped noise (LTSSN) and multi-talker babble for English-native (EN) listeners and Chinese-native listeners in the U.S. (CNU) and China (CNC). The signal-to-noise ratio was manipulated from -15 to 0 dB. As expected, EN listeners performed significantly better in quiet and noisy conditions than CNU and CNC listeners. Vowel identification in LTSSN was similar between CNU and CNC listeners; however, performance in babble was significantly better for CNU listeners than for CNC listeners, indicating that exposing non-native listeners to native English may reduce informational masking of multi-talker babble.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Acoustics
  • Adult
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Audiometry, Speech
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multilingualism
  • Noise / adverse effects*
  • Perceptual Masking*
  • Phonetics*
  • Recognition, Psychology*
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Speech Acoustics*
  • Speech Perception*
  • Time Factors
  • Voice Quality*
  • Young Adult