Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders Programme, DUKE-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2024 Oct;77(10):2023-2039. doi: 10.1177/17470218231211722. Epub 2023 Nov 25.
While the literature is well represented in accounting for how aging influences segmental properties of speech, less is known about its influences on suprasegmental properties such as lexical tones. In addition, foreign language learning is increasingly endorsed as being a potential intervention to boost cognitive reserve and overall well-being in older adults. Empirical studies on young learners learning lexical tones are aplenty in comparison with older learners. Challenges in this domain for older learners might be different due to aging and other learner-internal factors. This review consolidates behavioural and neuroscientific research related to lexical tone, speech perception, factors characterising learner groups, and other variables that would influence lexical tone perception and learning in older adults. Factors commonly identified to influence tone learning in younger adult populations, such as musical experience, language background, and motivation in learning a new language, are discussed in relation to older learner groups and recommendations to boost lexical tone learning in older age are provided based on existing studies.
尽管文献在解释年龄如何影响言语的分段特征方面有很好的描述，但对于年龄如何影响超段特征，如词汇音高，知之甚少。此外，越来越多的人支持将外语学习作为一种潜在的干预手段，以提高老年人的认知储备和整体幸福感。与老年学习者相比，年轻学习者学习词汇音高的实证研究比比皆是。由于年龄和其他学习者内部因素，老年学习者在这一领域可能会面临不同的挑战。本综述整合了与词汇音高、言语感知、学习者群体特征以及其他可能影响老年人词汇音高感知和学习的变量相关的行为和神经科学研究。讨论了通常被认为会影响年轻成年人群体语调学习的因素，如音乐经验、语言背景和学习新语言的动机，以及与老年学习者群体的关系，并根据现有研究提出了提高老年词汇音高学习的建议。
