 Spoken word recognition

Spoken word recognition is the process of identifying familiar spoken forms from an unfolding speech signal and accessing the corresponding lexemes. It occurs as information arrives: the beginning of an utterance may fit several possible forms, while later sounds distinguish them. The temporary candidate set is a lexical cohort.

For example, the beginning of “candle” is also compatible with “candy”. As the later sounds arrive, the evidence changes. Recognizing the item therefore involves both sensitivity to the incoming sounds and access to stored phonological representations; it is not necessary to wait for a silent gap before beginning to interpret the signal.

A 2005 mouse tracking experiment made this changing evidence visible in action. Participants heard a target name while moving toward one of two pictures. A similar-sounding alternative altered the movement path even on trials ending at the correct picture. The result supported an account in which spoken word recognition can influence an ongoing action before the final choice is complete.^[ref]

The measured cursor path is a behavioural consequence of recognition, rather than a direct recording of a phonological representation. The inference linking the two must be made explicit.