All – LDL | Department of Linguistics

We are pleased to announce that Xiaoyu and Youngah’s paper, “Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition,” has been published in the journal Language and Speech.

This research delves into how learners acquire sound correspondences (SCs) in second dialect acquisition. SCs occur when sounds occupy corresponding positions in cognate words of related languages or dialects. While SCs can consist of both similar and distinct variants, the impact of this similarity on learning has been understudied.

In their study, Xiaoyu and Youngah investigated whether the degree of similarity between dialect variants affects SC learning. They employed an artificial language learning experiment where participants learned SCs between Standard Mandarin and “artificial dialects,” using a set of carefully controlled sound contrasts. The degree of similarity between the variants was evaluated using multiple measures, including phonetic and phonological metrics validated by typological evidence.

The findings revealed that while similarity did not impact the learning of simple one-to-one SCs, learners showed a preference for more distinct variants when the SC mapping structure was more complex (i.e., two-to-one or one-to-two mappings). This preference, however, only emerged when the dissimilarity between the variants was sufficiently large to cross a certain threshold.

This study demonstrates that although learners initially display a general lack of sensitivity to similarity differences, a preference for distinct variants emerges when SC mapping structures become more complex and the dissimilarity between variants reaches a critical level. This suggests that when acquiring complex SC patterns, learners seek out more salient cues, leading to an improved ability to differentiate between distinct variants.

Yu, X., & Do, Y. (2025). Preference for Distinct Variants in Learning Sound Correspondences During Dialect Acquisition. Language and Speech. open_in_newDOI

We are pleased to announce the publication of a review article by Ivy and Youngah, in Language and Linguistics Compass. The article, titled “Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning,” provides a comprehensive review of the research on substantive bias in phonological learning since the influential 2012 paper by Moreton and Pater.

The review categorizes studies into vowel, consonant, and suprasegmental patterns, highlighting advancements in experimental paradigms, the definition of phonetic naturalness, and the exploration of various phonological phenomena. It emphasizes how subtle methodological choices in experimental designs can affect the results of substantive bias.

Key findings from the review include:

Vowel Patterns: Studies on vowel harmony have consistently developed more sophisticated paradigms, highlighting the role of naturalness in learning. The review showed how different training parameters (variable input, iterative learning) influence the effect of substantive bias.
Consonant Patterns: Research in this domain has explored various phonological phenomena, including nasalization, voicing, and saltatory alternations, suggesting the importance of considering phonetic precursor strength and the roles of articulatory and perceptual factors when assessing substantive bias effects.
Suprasegmental Patterns: Studies on tone and stress patterns have consistently shown a positive effect of substantive bias, differing from segmental patterns. The review suggests that these differences might be related to the learnability of the phonological patterns.

Based on their review, Ivy and Youngah suggest that future research should include:

An examination of the articulatory and perceptual foundations of each phonological pattern
An analysis of the similarities in features, articulation, and perception

The paper not only summarizes current findings but also provides important guidance for future research in phonological learning, particularly in the area of substantive bias.

Zheng, S., & Do, Y. (2025). Substantive Bias in Artificial Phonology Learning. Language and Linguistics Compass, 19(1), e70005. open_in_newDOI