Results of this study suggest that, for primary level children, the natural'' perceptual unit of spoken language is the syllable, not the phoneme. (Authors)

Argues that knowing how infants process speech is a prerequisite to any definition of linguistic experience and therefore, the discrimination paradigm does not provide a test for the effect of experience on infants' speech discrimination. Outlines conditions to be met in order to conclude an effect of experience. (EKN)

Reports on two experiments, one performed on infants, the other on adults, designed to examine the issue of categorical perception of speech contrasts in infants in relation to linguistic processing and the innateness theory of speech perception. (AM)

This report is one of a regular series on the status and progress of studies on the nature of speech, instrumentation for its investigation, and practical applications. Manuscripts and extended reports cover the following topics: iconic storage, voice-timing perception, oral anesthesia, laryngeal function, electromyography of speech production,…