Integrating phonological theory with neurophysiological ontologies, we investigated how the brain encodes the speech acoustic signal into phonological representations. Previous studies failed to show clear neural hints for speech processing. Using high-density electroencephalography, we mapped the Salento Italian vowel system onto cortical sources: our findings showed for the first time that primary and secondary auditory cortices are characterized by a hierarchical processing that dynamically the acoustic signal into phonological representations according to the distinctive features principle. These findings give definitive evidence in favor of the classical theory developed in the ‘50s by Romans Jakobson, Morris Halle, and Kenneth Stevens: the Analysis by Synthesis Model.
Our longitudinal behavioral and neurophysiological investigations on the acquisition of second language phonetics and phonology in formal context (classroom), demonstrated that discrimination and pronunciation of L2 sounds do not improve at all. This is due to the poor quality and quantity of L2 stimuli received by learners, with teachers have a non-native accent, and students converse with each other in their first language during activities. These results were later confirmed by other independent laboratories with different L2 learners. Along this line, our research is demonstrating how focused trainings can reactivate auditory and articulatory plasticity.
Investigating dialects variation in southern Salentino varieties, we discovered phonological processes (metaphony) that, according to the classical literature, should not have been present in this linguistic area. Thanks to acoustical and statistical analysis of data, we revealed the presence of metaphonic raising both for stressed /ɛ/→[e] and /ɔ/→[o] when followed by unstressed [i] or [ʊ]. Crucially, we showed that this phenomenon is interested by extreme variation. These findings have posed critical challenges both for phonological theories and historical linguistics, suggesting new ways to look at dialectal variation. Further articulatory and neurophysiological data confirmed the initial findings and showed that the distinctive feature [±ATR] is involved in the raising of mid-vowel.
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