Mechanisms of generalization for phonetic learning of accented speech

Listeners can rapidly adapt to an unfamiliar accent. Previous literature shows that such phonetic learning is often speaker-specific for certain speech sounds (e.g., fricatives) --- it does not transfer to novel speakers, possibly because fricatives contain spectral properties that cue speaker identity. However, recent research shows that transfer to a novel sound contrast can occur within a single speaker, suggesting that there is room for transfer of learning to a novel speaker with a sufficiently similar pronunciation. This study examines the transfer of phonetic learning for an atypical fricative pronunciation to novel speakers, focusing on the mechanisms that underlie such perceptual adaptation. Results of a series of experiments show that transfer of phonetic learning can occur to both novel speakers and novel phonetic contrasts. Results suggest that listeners may use a more targeted mechanism when generalizing learning to novel speakers, with acoustic similarity being a possible predictor of learning transfer.