Increases in phonotactic probability facilitate spoken nonword repetition

Lipinski and Gupta (2005) report the results of 12 experiments and numerous analyses that attempted to examine further the effects of phonotactic probability originally reported in Vitevitch and Luce (1998, and further explored in Vitevitch & Luce 1999). They suggested that Vitevitch and Luce's results were due to differences in the duration of the stimuli rather than to differences in phonotactic probability. The present report describes the results from another nonword naming experiment - employing a new set of duration-matched stimuli - that demonstrate a facilitative effect of phonotactic probability above and beyond that of stimulus duration. The current results provide support for Vitevitch and Luce's original claims. Possible sources of the discrepancies between Lipinski and Gupta's data and those in the present report are discussed. Although many factors may mediate the facilitative effect of phonotactic probability on nonword repetition latency, we believe there is still sufficient evidence to support the claim that increases in phonotactic probability for nonwords are associated with decreases in nonword processing times, even when stimulus duration is controlled.