The effect of speech rate on easy language audios comprehension
Pujadas Farreras, Marina (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Traducció i d'Interpretació i d'Estudis de l'Àsia Oriental)
Machuca Ayuso, María Jesús (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Filologia Espanyola)

Date:	2025
Description:	16 pàg.
Abstract:	Easy Language is a simplified language variety designed to make information more comprehensible for diverse target groups, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, second-language learners, and those with neurocognitive disorders. Although certain guidelines and standards of Easy Language give some recommendations regarding prosodic aspects, these have not yet been tested with the target user groups considered in this study. This study investigates the impact of speech rate on comprehension of Easy Language audios in Catalan, as well as the acceptability of different speech rates and users' preferences. Three participant groups were involved: individuals with intellectual disabilities, neurotypical second-language learners, and a neurotypical control group. Four distinct speech rates were assessed (130 wpm, 150 wpm, 170 wpm, and 190 wpm). The results indicated that speech rate had no significant effect on comprehension across any group. However, it is important to highlight that all three groups agreed that 150 wpm was the most acceptable speed, and it was also among the most preferred speeds.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-137058NB-I00 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00077 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2022/FI_B-00097
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Easy language ; Intellectual disability ; L2 learners ; Listening comprehension ; Prosody ; Speech rate
Published in:	Language & Communication, Vol 104 (2025) , p. 140-155, ISSN 1873-3395

DOI: 10.1016/j.langcom.2025.07.005

16 p, 1.9 MB

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