Speaking and Hearing Clearly: Talker and Listener Factors in Speaking Style Changes

TLDR

Clear speech research illuminates how higher‑level cognitive and lower‑level sensory‑perceptual factors interact to affect language processing, offering both theoretical insights and practical applications. This review surveys the nature of clear speech and its impact on intelligibility across listener populations, while highlighting open questions and future research directions. The authors synthesize existing studies on clear speech, examining its characteristics and effects on intelligibility. Key findings show that talker, listener, and signal factors jointly contribute to the markedly higher intelligibility of clear speech.

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the research concerning the nature of the distinct, listener-oriented speaking style called 'clear speech' and its effect on intelligibility for various listener populations. We review major findings that identify talker, listener and signal characteristics that contribute to the characteristically high intelligibility of clear speech. Understanding the interplay of these factors sheds light on the interaction between higher level cognitive and lower-level sensory and perceptual factors that affect language processing. Clear speech research is, thus, relevant for both its theoretical insights and practical applications. Throughout the review, we highlight open questions and promising future directions.