Discreteness and interactivity in spoken word production

Five theories of spoken word production that differ along the discreteness- interactivity dimension are evaluated. Specifically examined is the role th at cascading activation, feedback, seriality, and interaction domains play in accounting for a set of fundamental observations derived from patterns o f speech errors produced by normal and brain-damaged individuals. After rev iewing the evidence from normal speech errors, case studies of 3 brain-dama ged individuals with acquired naming deficits are presented. The patterns t hese individuals exhibit provide important constraints on theories of spoke n naming. With the help of computer simulations of the 5 theories, the auth ors evaluate the extent to which the error patterns predicted by each theor y conform with the empirical facts. The results support a theory of spoken word production that, although interactive, places important restrictions o n the extent and locus of interactivity.