Non-native speech recognition sentences: A new materials set for non-native speech perception research

Abstract

Research into non-native (L2) speech perception has increased the need for specialized experimental materials. The Non-Native Speech Recognition (NNSR) sentences are a new large-scale set of speech recognition materials for research with L2 speakers of English at CEFR level B1 (North, Ortega, & Sheehan, 2010) and above. The set comprises 439 triplets of sentences in three related conditions: semantically predictable, neutral, and anomalous. The sentences were created by combining a strongly or weakly contextually constrained sentence frame with a congruent or anomalous final keyword, and they were matched on a number of factors during development, to maintain consistency across conditions. This article describes the development process of the NNSR sentences, along with results of speech-in-noise intelligibility testing for L2 and native English speakers. Suggestions for the sentences’ application in a range of investigations and experimental designs are also discussed.