Collins Living-Learning Center

How do listeners process spoken language? Why is it easier to understand some speech than others? This course explores the cognitive and perceptual mechanisms underlying speech perception, focusing on both native and nonnative listening. We will examine how listeners recognize words, adapt to speaker variation, and process speech in challenging conditions such as noise or casual conversation. Topics include top-down and bottom-up processing, mental representation, lexical competition, and speech perception in a second language. In addition to readings from research articles and book chapters, the course will incorporate online resources such as videos and interactive materials to enhance learning. Through discussions and analysis of research findings, students will develop a deeper understanding of how the mind makes sense of spoken language and what factors influence successful communication.

Instructor: Bihua Chen