Predicting language dominance in Spanish/English bilingual adults based on relative speech-in-speech recognition scores

• Tiana Cowan ^[4] ; Lauren Calandruccio ^[1] ; Emily Buss ^[2] ; Barbara Rodriguez ^[3] ; Lori J. Leibold ^[4]
  1. [1] Case Western Reserve University

     Case Western Reserve University

     City of Cleveland, Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

     University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

     Township of Chapel Hill, Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] University of New Mexico

     University of New Mexico

     Estados Unidos

     
  4. [4] Boys Town National Research Hospital, USA

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• Localización: International Journal of Bilingualism: interdisciplinary studies of multilingual behaviour, ISSN 1367-0069, Vol. 28, Nº. 5, 2024, págs. 845-862
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1177/13670069231195394
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Purpose:

    Multiple dimensions of language dominance, such as language proficiency and demand for language use, can be reflected in bilinguals’ speech-in-speech recognition scores. This paper explores the feasibility of using a novel measure to estimate language dominance for bilinguals: relative speech-in-speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) or the within-person difference in SRTs between their two languages.

    Method:

    Participants were 25 Spanish/English bilingual adults (Mage = 30 years). SRTs for sentence recognition in a language-matched two-talker masker were measured in English and in Spanish using an adaptive, open-set task. Relative SRTs were calculated by subtracting the Spanish SRT from the English SRT. Language dominance and proficiency were assessed by established measures.

    Analysis:

    Spearman correlations were used to assess the association between measures.

    Findings:

    Relative SRTs were correlated with dominance scores derived from both a questionnaire (rs = −.80) and standardized testing (rs = −.80).

    Originality:

    We tested and validated a novel measure, relative SRTs, to predict language dominance in bilingual adults. This time-efficient method could be used by bilingual researchers interested in assessing language dominance for descriptive or experimental purposes.

    Significance:

    Relative SRTs show promise as a valid method to assess language dominance in Spanish/English bilingual adults.