Transitional probability is not a general mechanism for the segmentation of speech

Tested the generality of a transitional probability model for the perceptual segmentation of speech. Previous research has shown that clicks in sentences are subjectively located at boundaries between clauses. This might be a reflection of the low transitional probability between clauses rather than a demonstration that syntactic structure is actively used to organize speech processing. Here, Ss indicated the subjective location of a click presented during sentences which varied transitional probability within clauses. Results show that a click in the 1st word of a highly redundant (high-probability) 2-word sequence tends to be subjectively perceived as occurring in the middle of the sequence, while a click in the 2nd word of a low-probability 2-word sentence tends to be perceived as occurring after the sequence. Thus high-probability sequences within clauses subjectively attract clicks into themselves, while low-probability sequences do not, indicating that transitional probability has different effects within and between clauses and thus is not a general mechanism for the active segmentation of speech. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).