Modeling the acquisition of covert contrast

James Kirby

Modeling the acquisition of covert contrast

James Kirby

School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

This paper explores the learnability of covert contrasts (impressionistically homophonous categories that can be reliably distinguished at the phonetic level) through a series of model-based clustering simulations using human production data. Allowing the models to learn both the number and parameters of those categories provides a way to explore the potential stability of category structures. The results indicate that while a statistical learner can be quite effective at inducing covert contrasts, success depends crucially on the number and distributional characteristics of the relevant cue dimensions

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences
Editors	Wai-Sum Lee, Eric Zee
Place of Publication	Hong Kong
Pages	1090-1093
Number of pages	4
Publication status	Published - 2011

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Phonetics
Dutch
Phonology
statistical modeling

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KIRBY - Modeling the Acquisition of Covert Contrast
© Kirby, J. (2011). Modeling the acquisition of covert contrast. In W-S. Lee, & E. Zee (Eds.), Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences. (pp. 1090-1093). Hong Kong.
Final published version, 498 KB

http://www.icphs2011.hk/resources/OnlineProceedings/RegularSession/Kirby/Kirby.pdf

The 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS 2011)
Kirby, J.
British Academy & Learned & Prof Socs
31/07/11 → …
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Modeling the acquisition of covert contrast",

abstract = "This paper explores the learnability of covert contrasts (impressionistically homophonous categories that can be reliably distinguished at the phonetic level) through a series of model-based clustering simulations using human production data. Allowing the models to learn both the number and parameters of those categories provides a way to explore the potential stability of category structures. The results indicate that while a statistical learner can be quite effective at inducing covert contrasts, success depends crucially on the number and distributional characteristics of the relevant cue dimensions",

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AB - This paper explores the learnability of covert contrasts (impressionistically homophonous categories that can be reliably distinguished at the phonetic level) through a series of model-based clustering simulations using human production data. Allowing the models to learn both the number and parameters of those categories provides a way to explore the potential stability of category structures. The results indicate that while a statistical learner can be quite effective at inducing covert contrasts, success depends crucially on the number and distributional characteristics of the relevant cue dimensions

KW - Phonetics

KW - Dutch

KW - Phonology

KW - statistical modeling

M3 - Conference contribution

SP - 1090

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BT - Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences

A2 - Lee, Wai-Sum

A2 - Zee, Eric

CY - Hong Kong

ER -

Modeling the acquisition of covert contrast

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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Projects

The 17th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (ICPhS 2011)

Cite this