The cohort model is a theoretical framework used to explain how listeners recognize spoken words through the activation of lexical candidates based on the initial sounds they hear. This model suggests that as a person hears a word, multiple candidates that match the initial phonemes are activated in their mental lexicon, and the cohort of possible words is then narrowed down based on subsequent phonetic information until a unique word is identified.
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The cohort model operates under the assumption that word recognition is incremental; as soon as the listener begins to hear a word, they start activating potential candidates.
The initial cohort includes all words that share the same beginning sounds, which can lead to multiple possibilities being considered simultaneously.
Subsequent phonetic input helps eliminate candidates that do not match, leading to faster and more accurate word recognition.
Research has shown that context and frequency of word usage can influence the speed at which a listener narrows down their choices within the cohort.
The cohort model contrasts with models that suggest a more holistic approach to word recognition, highlighting its focus on phonemic information.
Review Questions
How does the cohort model illustrate the process of word recognition during speech comprehension?
The cohort model illustrates word recognition as a dynamic process where listeners activate multiple lexical candidates upon hearing the initial sounds of a word. This activation creates a 'cohort' of possible matches that are then narrowed down as more phonetic information becomes available. The model emphasizes how listeners use incremental processing to quickly identify the intended word from among competing candidates.
Discuss the implications of the cohort model for understanding lexical access and its relationship with phonetic information in language processing.
The cohort model has significant implications for understanding lexical access, as it highlights how phonetic information directly influences word recognition. By proposing that listeners activate all potential candidates based on initial phonemes, it suggests that lexical access is not merely about retrieving fixed entries but involves an active process of discrimination among similar-sounding words. This model supports research showing that real-time processing relies heavily on auditory input to refine choices within the activated cohort.
Evaluate how the cohort model contributes to our understanding of language processing and its limitations in explaining variability in spoken language comprehension.
The cohort model contributes significantly to our understanding of language processing by illustrating how listeners efficiently navigate potential word candidates using initial phonetic cues. However, its limitations lie in its less comprehensive treatment of contextual factors, such as semantic meaning or speaker variability, which can also play critical roles in comprehension. Additionally, while it accounts for incremental processing, it may not fully capture the complexities involved in understanding rapid or unclear speech, which could challenge its applicability across diverse linguistic scenarios.
The process by which individuals retrieve the meaning and pronunciation of a word from their mental lexicon during language comprehension.
phoneme: The smallest unit of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning, such as the sounds represented by 'b' and 'p' in 'bat' and 'pat.'
shadowing: A technique in psycholinguistics where participants repeat speech immediately after hearing it, often used to study lexical access and processing.