Speech in a Foreign Language Sounds Very Fast to a Listener

question 29

Multiple Choice

Speech in a foreign language sounds very fast to a listener who is not familiar with the language. Which of the following statements does NOT accurately explain this fact?

• A) Coarticulation makes speech seem slower in our own language, but not in a foreign language.
• B) Unfamiliar listeners lack the skill necessary to segment the speech stream.
• C) All speech is really an uninterrupted flow of sound.
• D) Top-down knowledge facilitates perception and understanding of speech in a native language, but not in a foreign language.

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Definitions:

Reaction Occurrence

Refers to the event in which reactants transform into products during a chemical reaction.

Collide

To come into forceful contact with another object, often resulting in a transfer of energy or a physical change.

Molecular-Level Collisions

Interactions between molecules that occur when their kinetic energies allow them to overcome repulsive forces and come into close contact, often resulting in chemical reactions.

High-Energy Collisions

Interactions between particles with extremely high kinetic energy, often studied to understand fundamental particles and forces.