Spoken language consists of a complex, sequentially arrayed signal that contains patterns that can be described in terms of statistical relations among language units. Previous research has suggested that a domain-general ability to learn structured sequential patterns may underlie language acquisition. To test this prediction, we examined the…

In three experiments, 3-, 4-, and 5-year olds and adults identified words from a list presented by a single talker or multiple talkers. Subjects were less accurate identifying or slower repeating words spoken by multiple speakers than by a single speaker. Processing of multiple speakers' words became easier with age. Children matched their…