Abstract

 

Speech segmentation is an important task in speech recognition in listening comprehension. It refers to the process of speech perception, in other words, recognizing individual word from continuous speech through segmenting the flow of words, which belongs to the micro level of listening comprehension. However, recently, there has been a deficiency in existing relevant research on the speech segmentation in domestic. 

This study aims to look into the present situation of the application of speech segmentation in listening comprehension as well as the major factors that influence listeners’ performance in segmenting speech, in order to draw some implications that may be useful for the learning of English listening comprehension. The primary data are derived from an interview and listeners’ scores in one listening comprehension test, and three kinds of speech segmentation tests. Listeners’ scores are analyzed by SPSS 22.0 for Mac. The major findings are summarized as follows:

Through comparing the results of the tests, the high-score achievers have already shown a tendency in relying on stressed syllables to detect the onset of an independent word. They can also segment speech through the phonotactic features, and at the same time are influenced by lexical competition. By contrast, in accordance to low-score achievers’ behaviors in segmenting speech, the stressed syllables and weak syllables, as well as phonotactic alignment and misalignment are treated equally. 

In view of the discussion of the results, this study discovers that the proficiency in using the stress-based speech segmentation strategy, the knowledge of phonotactic features of English and the effect of lexical competition in speech segmentation exert influence on listeners’ performances in speech segmentation, which can provide useful and significant clues, as well as support for segmenting speech, and further benefit listeners from successfully recognizing words from continuous speech in listening comprehension.

Based on the above findings, the researcher draws some implications that may be helpful for the improvement of English listening comprehension.

 

Key words: speech segmentation, listening comprehension, non-English majors

 

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of the study-1

1.2 Purpose of the study and research questions-2

1.3 Layout of the thesis-2

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Speech segmentation-3

2.1.1 Stress-based Metrical Segmentation Strategy-3

2.1.2 Phonotactic features-4

2.1.3 Lexical competition-4

2.2 Theoretical foundation-5

2.2.1 Anderson’s three-phase model of listening comprehension-5

2.2.2 Shortlist model-6

2.3 Related Studies-6

2.3.1 Related Studies of Stress-based Metrical Segmentation Strategy-6

2.3.2 Related Studies of phonotactic features-7

2.3.3 Related Studies of lexical competition-7

Chapter Three Research Methodology-9

3.1 Participants-9

3.2 Instruments-9

3.2.1 Listening comprehension tests-9

3.2.2 Speech segmentation strategy test.-10

3.2.3 The knowledge of phonotactic features test-10

3.2.4 The effect of lexical competition tests-11

3.2.5 Interview-13

3.3 Procedures-13

3.5 Data collection and analysis-14

Chapter Four Results and Discussion-16

4.1 Results of listening comprehension test-16

4.2 Differences between listeners of different proficiency level in speech segmentation-16

4.2.2 Results of speech segmentation strategy test-16

4.2.3 Results of the knowledge of phonotactic features test-18

4.2.4 Results of the effect of lexical competition tests-20

4.3 Influencing factors of listeners’ performances in speech segmentation-21

4.3.1 Results of interview-21

4.3.2 Discussion of the factors influencing listeners’ performances in speech segmentation-23

Chapter Five Conclusion-26

5.1 Major findings-26

5.2 Implications-26

5.3 Limitations and suggestions-27

References-28

Appendix A: Sample of Listening Comprehension Tests-30

Appendix B: Materials of Speech Segmentation Strategy Test-33

Appendix C: Materials of Knowledge of Phonotatic Feactures Test-34

Appendix D: Materials of the Effect of Lexical Competition Tests-35

Appendix E: Interview Questions-36

Appendix F: Interview Data Coding Process-37

Appendix G: Samples of Translated Transcripts Used in the Text-39

文献综述报告-40