Language Processed Differently by Gender: Sex of Speaker Determines what Listeners Hear

A new study shows that the sex of a speaker may determine how much listeners actually understand, depending on their gender.

According to researchers at the University of Kansas, they set up an experiment that shows how the sex of a speaker can quickly determine what words are grammatically identified for the listener. This creates new evidence regarding higher-level processes and how they are affected.

Researchers examined Spanish words that show grammatical gender-either ending in an "o" for masculine or an "a" for feminine. Researchers found that the sex of a speaker typically affected how fast and accurately lsiteners could identify a list of Spanish words that were either feminine or masculine.

A mismatch between the sex of the speaker and the gender of the word showed a slowed down response time when trying to correctly pronounce and identify a word. This was true for both sepakers and listeners of native Spanish speakers.

Lead study author and KU professor of psychology Micahel Vitecitch notes that for years, researchers had believed that grammar and syntax were automatic and untouchable by other brain processes.

However, researchers discuss the alternative school of thought that involves brains processing words using exemplars that contain and index information both through the composition of the word and the speaker providing the language.

"Our study shows that all the other information does influence not just word recognition processing, but higher-level processes associated with grammar," Vitevitch said, via a press release.

"We didn't evolve to be efficient. We evolved to get the job done. We need both systems."

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal PLOS ONE.