The Role of Speech Signal Variability in Affecting Speech Perception Received by Iraqi EFL Learners

Abstract

Speech perception plays a pivotal role in language comprehension, involving the translation of acoustic signals into meaningful linguistic units. However, speech signals exhibit inherent variability, complicating this process, especially for learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Variability in speech signals arises from numerous factors such as speaker anatomy, speaking rate, environmental noise, and contextual influences. These variables significantly impact the clarity of speech perception, particularly in non-native learners. Although much has been studied regarding the variability of speech signals, its specific effect on EFL learners, especially in noisy or fast-paced speech contexts, remains under-explored. This gap calls for research to investigate how these factors influence speech perception. The study aims to evaluate how variations in speech signals particularly speed and ambient noise affect the perception of speech among Iraqi EFL learners. Findings suggest that while students could perceive part of the speech signal, none fully transcribed the original utterance correctly. The factors of noise and speaking rate significantly hindered comprehension, with male students generally outperforming female students. The research highlights the specific challenges faced by EFL learners in conditions of high variability, offering insights into the perceptual limits of speech processing in a non-native context. This study emphasizes the importance of exposing EFL learners to diverse, real-world listening environments to improve their ability to decode speech signals under variable conditions.