Syllabification of Intervocalic Consonant Clusters by English and Japanese Speakers

本研究探讨了英语和日语使用者如何音节化双音节英语单词和非单词中的音间辅音群。受过英语音节识别训练的日语使用者也接受了测试。在口语任务中，被试在英语单词和非单词两部分之间插入停顿。在书面任务中，他们从三个选项中选择了自己喜欢的分段。虽然音节化的一般模式是将集群分开，但三个群体的首选划分类型不同，每种类型都受到其语言中典型音节形状的影响。同时，一些语音因素和形态信息影响了词的划分方式。语音定位的合法性，元音长度和形态知识产生跨语言的影响，而重音位置只对英语发言者的反应。任务类型（口头或书面）和刺激（真实的词或非词）也影响音节化。研究结果与语言学和心理语言学理论或音节化原则有关。

This study investigated how English and Japanese speakers syllabify intervocalic consonant clusters in two-syllable English words and nonwords. Japanese speakers who had been trained to recognize English syllables were also tested. In oral tasks participant inserted a pause between two parts of English words and nonwords. In written tasks they selected their preferred segmentation among three choices. Although the general pattern of syllabification was to separate the clusters, the preferred types of division differed across three groups, each type influenced by typical syllable shapes in their languages. At the same time, several phonological factors and morphological information affected the way words were divided. Phonotactic legality, vowel length, and morphological knowledge exerted cross-language influence on participants' responses, while stress position had an impact only on English speakers. The types of tasks (oral or written) and stimuli (real words or nonwords) also affected syllabification. The results are discussed in relation to linguistic and psycholinguistic theories or principles of syllabification.