Signal and Context Components of Word-Recognition Behavior

Abstract

Data are presented on the effect of speech‐to‐noise ratio and context on intelligibility of monosyllabic words. The context for words in noise was provided by parts of noisefree sentences. A formula called the discriminant rule is derived from a multidimensional theory of discrimination. It accounts for the speech‐to‐noise and context effects both for these data and for word‐list effects found in experiments reported elsewhere. Fit of the discriminant rule to both experimental situations shows in what sense context limits the number of alternatives afforded the listener.