Processing lexically embedded spoken words

A large number of multisyllabic words contain syllables that are themselves words. Previous research using cross-modal priming and word-spotting tasks suggests that embedded words may be activated when the carrier word is hea rd. To determine the effects of an embedded ward on processing of the large r word, processing times for matched pairs of bisyllabic words were examine d to contrast the effects of the presence or absence of embedded words in b oth 1st- and 2nd-syllable positions. Results from auditory lexical decision and single-word shadowing demonstrate that the presence of an embedded wor d in the Ist-syllable position speeds processing times for the carrier word . The presence of an embedded word in the 2nd syllable has no demonstrable effect.