The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report

Marina Kalashnikova; Leher Singh; Angeline Tsui; Eylem Altuntas; Denis Burnham; Ryan Cannistraci; Ng Bee Chin; Ye Feng; Laura Fernandez-Merino; Antonia Götz; Lisa Gustavsson; Jessica Hay; Barbara Höhle; René Kager; Regine Lai; Liquan Liu; Ellen Marklund; Thierry Nazzi; Daniele Santos Oliveira; Anne Marte Haug Olsted; Anthony Picaud; Iris-Corinna Schwartz; Feng-Ming Tsao; Patrick Wong; Pei Jun Woo

doi:10.1111/desc.13459

The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report

Marina Kalashnikova
, Leher Singh
, Angeline Tsui
, Eylem Altuntas
, Denis Burnham
, Ryan Cannistraci
, Ng Bee Chin
, Ye Feng
, Laura Fernandez-Merino
, Antonia Götz
, Lisa Gustavsson
, Jessica Hay
, Barbara Höhle
, René Kager
, Regine Lai
, Liquan Liu
, Ellen Marklund
, Thierry Nazzi
, Daniele Santos Oliveira
, Anne Marte Haug Olsted

Anthony Picaud, Iris-Corinna Schwartz, Feng-Ming Tsao, Patrick Wong, Pei Jun Woo

ILS - Language acquisition, processing and disorders

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

We report the findings of a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones as a function of their native language, age and language experience, as well as of tone properties. Given the high prevalence of lexical tones across human languages, understanding lexical tone acquisition is fundamental for comprehensive theories of language learning. While there are some similarities between the developmental course of lexical tone perception and that of vowels and consonants, findings for lexical tones tend to vary greatly across different laboratories. To reconcile these differences and to assess the developmental trajectory of native and non-native perception of tone contrasts, this study employed a single experimental paradigm with the same two pairs of Cantonese tone contrasts (perceptually similar vs. distinct) across 13 laboratories in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North-America testing 5-, 10- and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Across the age range and language backgrounds, infants who were not exposed to Cantonese showed robust discrimination of the two non-native lexical tone contrasts. Contrary to this overall finding, the statistical model assessing native discrimination by Cantonese-learning infants failed to yield significant effects. These findings indicate that lexical tone sensitivity is maintained from 5 to 17 months in infants acquiring tone and non-tone languages, challenging the generalisability of the existing theoretical accounts of perceptual narrowing in the first months of life. Research Highlights: This is a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones. This study included data from 13 laboratories testing 5-, 10-, and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Overall, infants discriminated a perceptually similar and a distinct non-native tone contrast, although there was no evidence of a native tone-language advantage in discrimination. These results demonstrate maintenance of tone discrimination throughout development.

Original language	English
Article number	e13459
Pages (from-to)	1-21
Number of pages	21
Journal	Developmental Science
Volume	27
Issue number	3
Early online date	21 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13459
Publication status	Published - May 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

We are deeply grateful to all the infants who took part in this study and their families. We also thank Elena Aguirrebengoa, Patricia Jimenez, Annabel Tan, Ella Ward, Chunzi Li, Kin Man Carmen Tang, Tom Fritzsche, Floor Braun, Desiree Capel, Charlotte Koevoets, Klara Marklund Hjerpe, Anna Ericsson, Petter Kallioinen, Bente Sand Aronsson, Glenneze Ong, Ng J‐Wen, Anne Karin Gisvold, and Yi‐Chen Lin for assistance with data collection across the participating laboratories. In addition, the Hong Kong team would like to thank The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) – Utrecht University (UU) Joint Centre for Language, Mind and Brain, the CUHK – NTU – WSU Joint Laboratory for Infant Research, and participants of the Stanley Ho Developmental Cohort Study. The Norway team thanks Elizabeth Lanza, Fredrik Eugen Christiansen, Ingeborg Sophie Ribu, Hanne Gram Simonsen for help in establishing the infant laboratory and setting up the testing environment. We thank the following funding sources for supporting this work. In Spain, MK received support from the Basque Government through the BERC 2022–2025 program, by the Spanish State Research Agency through BCBL Severo Ochoa excellence accreditation CEX2020‐001010/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and by the Ramon y Cajal Research Fellowship, RYC2018‐024284‐I. In Singapore (NUS), LS received support from the ODPRT grant for research excellence. In Australia, EA received support from the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development Research Funds, Western Sydney University; and DB received support from the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development Research Funds, Western Sydney University. In Singapore (NTU), BC received support from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. In Germany, BH and AG received support from the DFG (German Research Foundation) FOR 2253 HO 1960/19‐2. In Sweden, LG received support from the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (P17‐0175); EM received support from the Magnus Bergvall foundation (2018‐02855), the Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs minnesfond (2019.0030), and the Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (P21‐0679); and I.‐C.S. received support from Stockholm University (SU FV‐5.1.2‐2875‐18) and the Marcus and Amali Wallenberg Foundation (2020.0094). In Norway, LL received support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska‐Curie grant agreement No. 798658 hosted by the Center for Multilingualism across the Lifespan at the University of Oslo, financed by Research Council of Norway through its Centers of Excellence funding scheme grant agreement No. 223265 and Western Sydney University School of Psychology 20820 83181. In France, TN and AP received support from the LABEX EFL (ANR‐10‐LABX‐0083). In Taiwan, FT received support from the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (110‐2410‐H‐002 ‐128 ‐MY2). In Hong Kong, PW received support from the University Grants Committee (HKSAR; RGC34000118, C4055‐19G) and the Innovation and Technology Fund (HKSAR; ITS/067/18). In Malaysia, PJW received support from the Sunway University Internal Grant, INT‐2019‐SST‐PSY‐01.

Funders	Funder number
MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development Research Funds
National Science and Technology Council	110‐2410‐H‐002 ‐128 ‐MY2
National Science and Technology Council
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft	FOR 2253 HO 1960/19‐2
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
University of Western Sydney
University Grants Committee	RGC34000118
University Grants Committee
Riksbankens Jubileumsfond
Norges Forskningsråd	20820 83181, 223265
Norges Forskningsråd
Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse	2018‐02855
Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse
Horizon 2020	798658
Horizon 2020
Stockholms Universitet	SU FV‐5.1.2‐2875‐18
Stockholms Universitet
Innovation and Technology Fund	ITS/067/18
Innovation and Technology Fund
Sunway University	INT‐2019‐SST‐PSY‐01
Sunway University
Agencia Estatal de Investigación	CEX2020‐001010/AEI/10.13039/501100011033
Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs minnesfond	P21‐0679, 2020.0094, 2019.0030
Marcus och Amalia Wallenbergs minnesfond

Keywords

bilingualism
infancy
lexical tone
perceptual reorganisation
speech discrimination

Access to Document

10.1111/desc.13459

Developmental Science - 2023 - Kalashnikova - The development of tone discrimination in infancy Evidence from aFinal published version, 1.89 MBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

Kalashnikova, M., Singh, L., Tsui, A., Altuntas, E., Burnham, D., Cannistraci, R., Chin, N. B., Feng, Y., Fernandez-Merino, L., Götz, A., Gustavsson, L., Hay, J., Höhle, B., Kager, R., Lai, R., Liu, L., Marklund, E., Nazzi, T., Santos Oliveira, D., ... Woo, P. J. (2024). The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report. Developmental Science, 27(3), 1-21. Article e13459. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13459

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title = "The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report",

abstract = "We report the findings of a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants{\textquoteright} ability to discriminate lexical tones as a function of their native language, age and language experience, as well as of tone properties. Given the high prevalence of lexical tones across human languages, understanding lexical tone acquisition is fundamental for comprehensive theories of language learning. While there are some similarities between the developmental course of lexical tone perception and that of vowels and consonants, findings for lexical tones tend to vary greatly across different laboratories. To reconcile these differences and to assess the developmental trajectory of native and non-native perception of tone contrasts, this study employed a single experimental paradigm with the same two pairs of Cantonese tone contrasts (perceptually similar vs. distinct) across 13 laboratories in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North-America testing 5-, 10- and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Across the age range and language backgrounds, infants who were not exposed to Cantonese showed robust discrimination of the two non-native lexical tone contrasts. Contrary to this overall finding, the statistical model assessing native discrimination by Cantonese-learning infants failed to yield significant effects. These findings indicate that lexical tone sensitivity is maintained from 5 to 17 months in infants acquiring tone and non-tone languages, challenging the generalisability of the existing theoretical accounts of perceptual narrowing in the first months of life. Research Highlights: This is a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants{\textquoteright} ability to discriminate lexical tones. This study included data from 13 laboratories testing 5-, 10-, and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Overall, infants discriminated a perceptually similar and a distinct non-native tone contrast, although there was no evidence of a native tone-language advantage in discrimination. These results demonstrate maintenance of tone discrimination throughout development.",

keywords = "bilingualism, infancy, lexical tone, perceptual reorganisation, speech discrimination",

author = "Marina Kalashnikova and Leher Singh and Angeline Tsui and Eylem Altuntas and Denis Burnham and Ryan Cannistraci and Chin, \{Ng Bee\} and Ye Feng and Laura Fernandez-Merino and Antonia G{\"o}tz and Lisa Gustavsson and Jessica Hay and Barbara H{\"o}hle and Ren{\'e} Kager and Regine Lai and Liquan Liu and Ellen Marklund and Thierry Nazzi and \{Santos Oliveira\}, Daniele and \{Haug Olsted\}, \{Anne Marte\} and Anthony Picaud and Iris-Corinna Schwartz and Feng-Ming Tsao and Patrick Wong and Woo, \{Pei Jun\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.",

year = "2024",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/desc.13459",

language = "English",

volume = "27",

pages = "1--21",

journal = "Developmental Science",

issn = "1363-755X",

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Kalashnikova, M, Singh, L, Tsui, A, Altuntas, E, Burnham, D, Cannistraci, R, Chin, NB, Feng, Y, Fernandez-Merino, L, Götz, A, Gustavsson, L, Hay, J, Höhle, B, Kager, R, Lai, R, Liu, L, Marklund, E, Nazzi, T, Santos Oliveira, D, Haug Olsted, AM, Picaud, A, Schwartz, I-C, Tsao, F-M, Wong, P & Woo, PJ 2024, 'The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report', Developmental Science, vol. 27, no. 3, e13459, pp. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13459

TY - JOUR

T1 - The development of tone discrimination in infancy

T2 - Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report

AU - Kalashnikova, Marina

AU - Singh, Leher

AU - Tsui, Angeline

AU - Altuntas, Eylem

AU - Burnham, Denis

AU - Cannistraci, Ryan

AU - Chin, Ng Bee

AU - Feng, Ye

AU - Fernandez-Merino, Laura

AU - Götz, Antonia

AU - Gustavsson, Lisa

AU - Hay, Jessica

AU - Höhle, Barbara

AU - Kager, René

AU - Lai, Regine

AU - Liu, Liquan

AU - Marklund, Ellen

AU - Nazzi, Thierry

AU - Santos Oliveira, Daniele

AU - Haug Olsted, Anne Marte

AU - Picaud, Anthony

AU - Schwartz, Iris-Corinna

AU - Tsao, Feng-Ming

AU - Wong, Patrick

AU - Woo, Pei Jun

PY - 2024/5

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N2 - We report the findings of a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones as a function of their native language, age and language experience, as well as of tone properties. Given the high prevalence of lexical tones across human languages, understanding lexical tone acquisition is fundamental for comprehensive theories of language learning. While there are some similarities between the developmental course of lexical tone perception and that of vowels and consonants, findings for lexical tones tend to vary greatly across different laboratories. To reconcile these differences and to assess the developmental trajectory of native and non-native perception of tone contrasts, this study employed a single experimental paradigm with the same two pairs of Cantonese tone contrasts (perceptually similar vs. distinct) across 13 laboratories in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North-America testing 5-, 10- and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Across the age range and language backgrounds, infants who were not exposed to Cantonese showed robust discrimination of the two non-native lexical tone contrasts. Contrary to this overall finding, the statistical model assessing native discrimination by Cantonese-learning infants failed to yield significant effects. These findings indicate that lexical tone sensitivity is maintained from 5 to 17 months in infants acquiring tone and non-tone languages, challenging the generalisability of the existing theoretical accounts of perceptual narrowing in the first months of life. Research Highlights: This is a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones. This study included data from 13 laboratories testing 5-, 10-, and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Overall, infants discriminated a perceptually similar and a distinct non-native tone contrast, although there was no evidence of a native tone-language advantage in discrimination. These results demonstrate maintenance of tone discrimination throughout development.

AB - We report the findings of a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones as a function of their native language, age and language experience, as well as of tone properties. Given the high prevalence of lexical tones across human languages, understanding lexical tone acquisition is fundamental for comprehensive theories of language learning. While there are some similarities between the developmental course of lexical tone perception and that of vowels and consonants, findings for lexical tones tend to vary greatly across different laboratories. To reconcile these differences and to assess the developmental trajectory of native and non-native perception of tone contrasts, this study employed a single experimental paradigm with the same two pairs of Cantonese tone contrasts (perceptually similar vs. distinct) across 13 laboratories in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North-America testing 5-, 10- and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Across the age range and language backgrounds, infants who were not exposed to Cantonese showed robust discrimination of the two non-native lexical tone contrasts. Contrary to this overall finding, the statistical model assessing native discrimination by Cantonese-learning infants failed to yield significant effects. These findings indicate that lexical tone sensitivity is maintained from 5 to 17 months in infants acquiring tone and non-tone languages, challenging the generalisability of the existing theoretical accounts of perceptual narrowing in the first months of life. Research Highlights: This is a multi-language and multi-lab investigation of young infants’ ability to discriminate lexical tones. This study included data from 13 laboratories testing 5-, 10-, and 17-month-old monolingual (tone, pitch-accent, non-tone) and bilingual (tone/non-tone, non-tone/non-tone) infants. Overall, infants discriminated a perceptually similar and a distinct non-native tone contrast, although there was no evidence of a native tone-language advantage in discrimination. These results demonstrate maintenance of tone discrimination throughout development.

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KW - infancy

KW - lexical tone

KW - perceptual reorganisation

KW - speech discrimination

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M3 - Article

SN - 1363-755X

VL - 27

SP - 1

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JO - Developmental Science

JF - Developmental Science

IS - 3

M1 - e13459

ER -

The development of tone discrimination in infancy: Evidence from a cross-linguistic, multi-lab report

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

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