| The effects of varying sentence intonation, familiarity of words, background noise, and levels of background noise on the identification of a speaker's words were studied. Types of intonation investigated were normal intonation, abnormally stressed words, and silent intervals within sentences. Studied background noise was no noise, cafeteria noise, and white noise. Noise was presented at 10 dB or 15 dB signal-to-noise ratios. The findings were that identification of: 1) familiar words was easier than identification of unfamiliar words, 2) words in sentences with normal intonation and words in sentences with silent intervals was easier than identification of words in sentences with abnormally stressed words, 3) words was most difficult in white noise and second most difficult in cafeteria noise, and 4) words was easier using the higher signal-to-noise ratio. The findings suggest that use of normal intonation and familiar words when speaking in adverse listening conditions can facilitate better listening comprehension. |
