1. Motor theory

2. Perception Traditional idea We perceive using the acoustic input
We map the acoustics with the words in our brain

3. Perception Motor theory
We perceive by mapping the sound to the muscle movements we use to produce the sound
The gestures of jaw movement, lip configuration, tongue height are used to both produce and perceive speech

4. Perception Traditional features + - Voicing + - Continuant
+ - Rounding
+ - lateral

5. Perception Motor features Muscle gestures required to Lower velum
Move vocal folds
Position tongue
Move lips

6. Perception
When people hear speech it involves the same part of the brain used to produce speech

7. Linguistic theories are often structured with reference to a stance taken about the workings of the human mind, but these stances are rarely informed by data from studies of psychological or neurological processing. Questions of how the mind prefers to store information (economically or redundantly), and what counts as an effcient process for the mind are empirical issues which need to be tested using scientific methodologies, and which cannot be settled by mustering logical, persuasive theoretical argumentation . . .

8. How do we store words phonologically?
Traditionally
They are stored as articulatory features
High, back, rounded, voiced, lateral

9. How do we store words phonologically?
Traditionally
They are stored as articulatory features
High, back, rounded, voiced, lateral
Motor theory is based on articulation

10. How do we store words phonologically?
Non-traditional, non motor theory
Words are stored based on acoustic features

11. Argument for motor theory
Consonants are encoded on surrounding vowels

12. Argument for motor theory
The transitions for [b] and [g] are constant
Not so for [d]

13. Argument for motor theory
If storage is acoustically based how can the formants differ for [d]?

14. Argument for motor theory
If storage is acoustically based how can the formants differ for [d]?
If storage is articulatory, then different formant transitions are not a problem

15. Motor theory Production involves converting idea into motor gestures
Comprehension involves passing sounds heard through motor gestures and back into idea

16. Motor theory Production involves converting idea into motor gestures
Comprehension involves passing sounds heard through motor gestures and back into idea
There is only one mechanism for both

17. Other theories have 2 storage lexicons
Perception uses one stored representation
Production uses another stored representation

18. Evidence for 2 stored lexicons
Brain damage can leave people unable to articulate correctly, but understand perfectly
The two lexicons belong to different parts of the brain

19. Where is the perception area?
It is closer to the auditory areas of the brain than the motor processing areas
So perception must be more auditory than motor based

20. Different articulatory gestures create same acoustic output
Retroflex vs. bunched “r”
[s] with tongue tip or blade
This suggest that acoustics is more important

21. Velars and Labials Are very different articulatorily
Are very similar acoustically
Low F2
Are interchanged
Pepsi > Peksi
Septiembre > sektiembre
Are coarticulated
[w] is labio velar
[g͡b]

22. F3 lowering Can be caused by different articulations Lip rounding
Retroflexing
Pharyngeal constriction