The Effects of Target-Masker Sex Mismatch on Linguistic Release from Masking

Abstract Listeners often experience challenges understanding an interlocutor (target) in the presence of competing talkers (maskers). However, during Linguistic Release from Masking (LRM), this difficulty decreases for native language targets (English) when paired with different language maskers (e.g., Dutch). There is considerable evidence that linguistic similarity between target-masker pairs determines the size of LRM. This study investigated whether and how LRM is affected when the streams also differed in talker sex. Experiment 1 investigated intelligibility for English targets in sex-matched and mismatched conditions with Dutch or English maskers. While typical LRM effects were obtained when sex was matched, opposite effects were detected when sex was mismatched. In Experiment 2, Mandarin maskers were used to increase linguistic dissimilarity and elicit stronger LRM effects. Despite the greater linguistic dissimilarity, the surprising reverse LRM effect in the sex-mismatch condition persisted. In Experiment 3, the target stream was held constant and talker sex and language were manipulated in the masker. Here, expected LRM effects were obtained for both the sex-matched and sex-mismatched conditions. This indicated that the locus of the dissimilarities, not just relative properties, affects LRM. Broadly, this study suggests that using naturally varying listening situations advance understanding of factors underlying LRM.

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Work Title The Effects of Target-Masker Sex Mismatch on Linguistic Release from Masking
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Brittany Williams
  2. Navin Viswanathan
Keyword
  1. Speech Perception, Masking, Linguistic Release
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publication Date 2020
Deposited March 08, 2021

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  • Added Creator Brittany Williams
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  • Updated Keyword, Description, Publication Date, and 1 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Speech Perception, Masking, Linguistic Release
    Description
    • Abstract
    • Listeners often experience challenges understanding an interlocutor (target) in the presence of competing talkers (maskers). However, during Linguistic Release from Masking (LRM), this difficulty decreases for native language targets (English) when paired with different language maskers (e.g., Dutch). There is considerable evidence that linguistic similarity between target-masker pairs determines the size of LRM. This study investigated whether and how LRM is affected when the streams also differed in talker sex. Experiment 1 investigated intelligibility for English targets in sex-matched and mismatched conditions with Dutch or English maskers. While typical LRM effects were obtained when sex was matched, opposite effects were detected when sex was mismatched. In Experiment 2, Mandarin maskers were used to increase linguistic dissimilarity and elicit stronger LRM effects. Despite the greater linguistic dissimilarity, the surprising reverse LRM effect in the sex-mismatch condition persisted. In Experiment 3, the target stream was held constant and talker sex and language were manipulated in the masker. Here, expected LRM effects were obtained for both the sex-matched and sex-mismatched conditions. This indicated that the locus of the dissimilarities, not just relative properties, affects LRM. Broadly, this study suggests that using naturally varying listening situations advance understanding of factors underlying LRM.
    Publication Date
    • 2020-10-1
    License
    • https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/
  • Updated Publication Date Show Changes
    Publication Date
    • 2020-10-1
    • 2020
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  • Updated