Dupoux et al.'s 1999 research showed that native speakers of a certain language insert illusory sounds to change syllable sequences that are "illegal" in their language to a legal sequence. These findings illustrate the power of
A) the sonority sequencing principle.
B) phonotactic expectations.
C) dissimilation processes.
D) unnatural patterns.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dupoux et al.'s research showed that native speakers insert illusory sounds to change syllable sequences that are "illegal" in their language to a legal sequence. This demonstrates the power of phonotactic expectations, which are the set of rules governing how sounds can be combined to form syllables and words in a particular language. The speakers' brains are anticipating the sounds that should occur in a certain context, and when they do not hear them, their brains insert an illusory sound to make the sequence conform to the expected phonotactic pattern.

Dupoux Et Al