Motor Theory of Speech Perception
The motor theory of speech perception is a theory that suggests that speech perception is based on the action of producing speech. It proposes that understanding spoken language is done through the activation of motor programs that are used in the production of speech. This theory has been used to explain how we are able to understand the spoken words of a foreign language and how infants are able to learn the language of their parents.
The motor theory of speech perception was first proposed by Liberman, Harris, Hoffman, and Griffith (1957). They suggested that when we hear speech, our brains automatically activate the motor programs used to produce speech. This allows us to understand the meaning of spoken language by recognizing the motor patterns associated with the production of speech.
The motor theory of speech perception has been supported by research showing that the same areas of the brain are activated when we hear speech and when we produce speech. For example, a study by Peterson and Savoy (1998) used brain imaging to show that the same regions of the brain were active during both hearing and producing speech.
The motor theory of speech perception has also been used to explain how infants are able to learn language. It suggests that infants’ brains automatically recognize the motor patterns associated with the production of speech, and this allows them to understand the meaning of spoken language.
In addition, the motor theory of speech perception has been used to explain how we are able to understand the spoken words of a foreign language. It suggests that our brains are able to recognize the motor patterns associated with the production of speech in a foreign language, and this allows us to understand the meaning of the words.
Overall, the motor theory of speech perception is a useful tool for understanding how we perceive spoken language. It suggests that we are able to understand speech by recognizing the motor patterns associated with the production of speech.
References
Liberman, A. M., Harris, K. S., Hoffman, H. S., & Griffith, B. C. (1957). The relation of apparent duration of the vowel to intensity of the consonant in synthetic speech sounds. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 29(2), 217-222.
Peterson, C. J., & Savoy, P. L. (1998). Processing spoken language: A biological perspective. Psychological Bulletin, 124(3), 262-279.