Where is the disadvantage for reduced pronunciation variants in spoken-word recognition? On the neglected role of the decision stage in the processing of word-form variation

This study examines the role of the decision stage in the recognition of reduced pronunciation variants, specifically variants produced with nasal flaps (e.g. “counter” produced as “couner”). We investigate whether the previously reported disadvantage for nasally flapped variants is located at an early perceptual processing stage or at a post-perceptual decision stage. Experiment 1 replicates the variant effect with a lexical decision task. Experiment 2 uses the psychological refractory period paradigm, suggesting that the variant effect is located at a stage that requires central processing resources. Experiment 3 employed the shadowing task, indicating a significantly smaller variant effect compared to the lexical decision task. In concert, our results suggest that the disadvantage for nasally flapped variants has at least in part a decisional locus, which challenges representational and perceptual accounts of the effect. A mechanism is discussed that describes how decisional factors could cause the disadvantage for reduced variants.