Perceiving and comprehending speech depends on the intelligibility of the speech signal. Frequently, communication occurs with adverse listening conditions including background noise or reverberation which compromise the intelligibility of the speech signal. Studies focused on the effects of these extrinsic degrading factors on the perception of a message after it has been produced. Fewer studies, however, explored the effect of a non-native accent on speech perception and comprehension (Anderson-Hsieh et al., 1992; Munro & Derwing, 1995; van Wijngaarden et al., 2002).

Objective

This study determines the effects of speech from a non-native speaker of English on semantic processing as it occurs in speech perception.

Design

Individuals made judgements about semantically congruent or incongruent sentences spoken by native or non-native accented speakers while we assessed processing of semantic information using behavioral and neurophysiological (ERP) responses.

Study sample

Two groups of 12 individuals between 20 and 30 years of age participated in this study.

Results

The results revealed a later N400 in response to a non-native accent.

Conclusions

N400 effect results indicated that, compared to a native accent, listening to non-native accent increases semantic processing difficulty, even with relevant semantic context.

中文翻译：

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重音语义处理的神经生理模式

感知和理解语音取决于语音信号的可理解性。通常，在不利的收听条件下进行通信，包括影响语音信号可理解性的背景噪声或混响。研究集中在这些外在的退化因素对信息产生后对信息的感知的影响。然而，很少有研究探讨非母语口音对言语感知和理解的影响（Anderson-Hsieh et al., 1992; Munro & Derwing, 1995; van Wijngaarden et al., 2002）。

客观的

本研究确定了非英语母语者的语音对语义处理的影响，因为它发生在语音感知中。

设计

当我们使用行为和神经生理学 (ERP) 反应评估语义信息的处理时，个人对母语或非母语口音的人所说的语义一致或不一致的句子做出判断。

研究样本

两组 12 名 20 至 30 岁的人参加了这项研究。

结果

结果揭示了后来的 N400 响应非母语口音。

结论

N400 效应结果表明，与母语口音相比，听非母语口音会增加语义处理难度，即使有相关的语义上下文。