LingLunch : John Alderete

John Alderete (Simon Fraser University)
Phonological regularity and the role of grammar in speech error analysis: segmental and syllable markedness

This talk investigates a set of phonological patterns in the SFU Speech Error Database (SFUSED), with the goal of understanding if and how phonological markedness is involved in online processes of phonological encoding. In particular, we examine a set of sound errors in SFUSED (consonant substitutions, deletions, and additions) with the aim of assessing how markedness at the segmental and syllabic levels may shape the structure of these errors. The results show that some of the results are consistent with the claim that markedness has a role in shaping error patterns, but these findings need to be weighed against alternative explanations that employ mechanisms that are more intrinsic to speech production processes, including the role of sound type frequency. The results both challenge and focus future research questions about the role of phonological grammar in speech error analysis.