Exemplar Dynamics
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VOT of stops varies in languages
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So people learn language specific VOT
It's not a phonetic universal or associated with
innate category
Exemplar Dynamics
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Exemplar theory
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Phonological patterns arise from language
use/experience
Words stored with phonetic details
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This explains frequency effects
Exemplar Dynamics
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In formal theories a rule applies when context is
met
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There is no way to fit frequency
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Phonetic details shouldn't influence processing
Exemplar Dynamics
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In formal theories the mental lexicon (storage)
is separate from processing
In formal theories words stored with small
inventory of phonemes
Phonemes are identical in all words
Exemplar Dynamics




In formal theories the mental lexicon (storage)
is separate from processing
In formal theories words stored with small
inventory of phonemes
Phonemes are identical in all words
Fact that rules can apply to new words is
“evidence” for existence of rule
Exemplar Dynamics
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
In formal theories sound changes apply to all
words with same phonemes
So, all words must be comprised of same units
Exemplar Dynamics
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In exemplar theory words stored in surface form
Exemplar Dynamics
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In exemplar theory words stored in surface form
The mental lexicon (UR) and processing (rules)
are not separate but interrelated
Exemplar Dynamics
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In exemplar theory words stored in surface form
The mental lexicon (UR) and processing (rules)
are not separate but interrelated
A word or phone or morpheme is a category
Exemplar Dynamics




In exemplar theory words stored in surface form
The mental lexicon (UR) and processing (rules)
are not separate but interrelated
A word or phone or morpheme is a category
Members of the category are stored in a cloud
of related exemplars
Exemplar Dynamics





In exemplar theory words stored in surface form
The mental lexicon (UR) and processing (rules)
are not separate but interrelated
A word or phone or morpheme is a category
Members of the category are stored in a cloud
of related exemplars
More similar exemplar are stored “closer” to
each other (or with stronger connections)
Exemplar Dynamics
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Exemplar are related/belong to same
cloud/category because they are perceived to
be the same thing
A form can belong to different categories
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e.g. shoot

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stored under different meanings
stored with relationships to frustration
stored with voice of person who says it a lot
Exemplar Dynamics
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Can you store everything you've ever
said/heard?
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Possibilities
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Older memories decay
Many exemplars are so similar they fuse into the same
thing
Exemplar Dynamics
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Exemplars are stored with other exemplar most
similar to it
The more similar, the stronger the relationship
More recently activated (used) exemplars are
stronger
Exemplar Dynamics
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Exemplar: a memory trace of an experience
Exemplar Dynamics
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Is exemplar “x” [I] or [ɛ]?
Prototype Theory
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Prototype:
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Most central member of category
Prototype Theory
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Prototype:
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Most central member of category
The one new exemplars are compared with to
determine what category it belongs to
Exemplar Theory
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No real single prototype, Instead
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Densely populated part of cloud
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Many exemplars
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High frequency exemplar
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Lots of connections between exemplar
Exemplar Theory

No real single prototype, Instead

Densely populated part of cloud

Many exemplars
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High frequency exemplar
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Lots of connections between exemplar
Exemplar Theory
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There is competition between clouds of
exemplars
“the probability for a label is influenced both by
the activation of exemplars having that label,
and by competition from other labels having
exemplars in the same area of the cognitive
map.”
Exemplar Theory
“In perception, the encoded phonetic character of
an incoming stimulus locates it in the parameter
space. Activation of exemplars in the
neighborhood is passed upwards to the labels,
with the most probable label winning in
competition with alternatives. Production
proceeds in the opposite direction.”
Exemplar Theory
“The likelihood that a particular exemplar will be
selected is proportionate to its strength.
Production is taken to be sensitive to strength in
exactly the same way that perceptual
classification is.”