SAUCE

The Sentences for studying Accent Understanding in Child Experiments, funded by NSF grant BCS-1230003. Sentences were used in Creel, Rojo, and Paullada (2016, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology) and more information on their creation is available in that document.

Sentences (printed, not spoken) are displayed below, and are also available here as a spreadsheet with a little more information.

Steps used to develop the SAUCE set. For future reference, Steps 7 and 8 are quite time-consuming.

Step 1. Obtained picture naming data from preschool-aged monolingual English-speaking children. Pictures are available by request from Creel.
Step 2. Created candidate sensical sentences (like The monkey ate the banana) for which the picture names (like banana) were the intended targets.
Step 3. Presented sentence stems (The monkey ate the ___________) to English-speaking adults to obtain sentence completion norms.
Step 4. Selected the 139 more-predictable sentences from the adult set, and presented to English-speaking children.
Step 5. Chose the top 100 sentences (without target-word repeats) for the final set. Average child cloze probability was .57 (SD = .23; range: .19-.96).
Step 6. Created 100 nonsensical sentences by rearranging the target words (e.g. The monkey ate the shark). From these, 100 nonword sentences were created by reassigning word onsets across sentences for the words in the carrier phrases.
Step 7. Recorded 20 speakers reading all sentences with related sentence triplets (those with the same stems) recorded in sequence. Order within the triplet was random (sensical, nonsensical, nonword) so that any order effects were equivalent across the three sentence types. Additionally, speakers were advised not to use contrastive intonation (i.e., not to emphasize the changing final word) and to read naturally as though speaking to a small child. There were 10 speakers of California-accented English (5 female, 5 male), and 10 speakers of Mexican-accented English (5 female, 5 male). Sentences where speakers made errors were rerecorded later in the session.
Step 8. Created individual audio files of each sentence for each speaker, as well as a final-word-only audio file of each sentence. Files with speech errors were discarded and all files were normalized to 70 dB SPL.

 

RowNumber	Low-prob & nonword target	Hi-prob target	SENSICAL sentence	NONSENSICAL sentence	NONWORD sentence
1	SHARK	BANANA	The monkey ate the banana.	The monkey ate the shark.	The runkey ate the shark.
2	DRAGON	STAIRS	Mom likes to use the elevator instead of the stairs.	Mom likes to use the elevator instead of the dragon.	Pom likes to use the elevator instead of the dragon.
3	BOX	CROWN	The king wore a shiny, gold crown.	The king wore a shiny, gold box.	The hing wore a shiny, gold box.
4	GIRLS	DOOR	When you go outside, please close the door.	When you go outside, please close the girls.	When you go outside, mease close the girls.
5	FLAG	BEE	She got stung by a bee.	She got stung by a flag.	She got fung by a flag.
6	AIRPLANE	SHELL	The scared turtle won’t come out of its shell.	The scared turtle won’t come out of its airplane.	The scared Jurtle won’t come out of its airplane.
7	CROWN	DINOSAUR	My teacher showed us fossils of an extinct dinosaur.	My teacher showed us fossils of an extinct crown.	My veacher showed us fossils of an extinct crown.
8	EARS	PANTS	If shorts won’t be warm enough, you can wear pants.	If shorts won’t be warm enough, you can wear ears.	If borts won’t be warm enough, you can wear ears.
9	PIG	HAIR	I put shampoo in my hair.	I put shampoo in my pig.	I put shamTROO in my pig.
10	SANTA	ROCKET	Watch the astronaut launch the rocket.	Watch the astronaut launch the santa.	Watch the pastronaut launch the santa.
11	CAR	WEB	The spider spun a big web.	The spider spun a big car.	The ider spun a big car.
12	DOOR	GUITAR	The rockstar was playing his guitar.	The rockstar was playing his door.	The tockstar was playing his door.
13	TREE	SHOVEL	My uncle dug a hole with a shovel.	My uncle dug a hole with a tree.	My suncle dug a hole with a tree.
14	GRASS	ROPE	To play tug of war, we pulled on the rope.	To play tug of war, we pulled on the grass.	To play mug of war, we pulled on the grass.
15	MONEY	PIZZA	My friend likes pepperoni on his pizza.	My friend likes pepperoni on his money.	My nend likes pepperoni on his money.
16	BAG	SPIDER	On the ceiling I saw a creepy-crawly spider.	On the ceiling I saw a creepy-crawly bag.	On the queeling I saw a creepy-crawly bag.
17	GUITAR	POOL	It was hot outside, so we jumped into the pool.	It was hot outside, so we jumped into the guitar.	It was fot outside, so we jumped into the guitar.
18	BROOM	BOOK	Mommy read me my favorite book.	Mommy read me my favorite broom.	Fommy read me my favorite broom.
19	TV	CASTLE	The king lived in a large castle.	The king lived in a large tv.	The bing lived in a large tv.
20	SNOWMAN	BROOM	Please sweep the floor with a broom.	Please sweep the floor with a snowman.	Please greep the floor with a snowman.
21	BALL	MOTORCYCLE	He always wears a helmet on that fast, loud motorcycle.	He always wears a helmet on that fast, loud ball.	He always wears a belmet on that fast, loud ball.
22	BED	DRESS	The bride wore a fancy dress.	The bride wore a fancy bed.	The kide wore a fancy bed.
23	DUCK	SALT	When daddy cooks he adds pepper and salt.	When daddy cooks he adds pepper and duck.	When raddy cooks he adds pepper and duck.
24	CEREAL	BABY	The mommy put a diaper on her baby.	The mommy put a diaper on her cereal.	The plommy put a diaper on her cereal.
25	PUMPKIN	NOSE	When I get a cold I have a runny nose.	When I get a cold I have a runny pumpkin.	When I get a brold I have a runny pumpkin.
26	WATCH	FLOWER	The bee sat on the petals of the flower.	The bee sat on the petals of the watch.	The swee sat on the petals of the watch.
27	HOUSE	SHARK	The swimmer was being chased by a giant shark.	The swimmer was being chased by a giant house.	The fimmer was being chased by a giant house.
28	CRAYONS	SHOES	First put on your socks, then put on your shoes.	First put on your socks, then put on your crayons.	First put on your nocks, then put on your crayons.
29	ZEBRA	BOX	The gift was inside the box.	The gift was inside the zebra.	The tift was inside the zebra.
30	EGGS	ANTS	At the picnic, the crumbs attracted ants.	At the picnic, the crumbs attracted eggs.	At the ricnic, the crumbs attracted eggs.
31	ROPE	AIRPLANE	The pilot flew the airplane.	The pilot flew the rope.	The drilot flew the rope.
32	ROCKET	RING	On her finger she wore a ring.	On her finger she wore a rocket.	On her minger she wore a rocket.
33	DRESS	PUMPKIN	For Halloween, he carved a pumpkin.	For Halloween, he carved a dress.	For Balloween, he carved a dress.
34	KEY	GIRAFFE	At the zoo, I saw a tall giraffe.	At the zoo, I saw a tall key.	At the broo, I saw a tall key.
35	BIRD	GHOST	At the haunted house, I saw a ghost.	At the haunted house, I saw a bird.	At the haunted kowce, I saw a bird.
36	BRIDGE	FROG	Sitting on the lilypad was a frog.	Sitting on the lilypad was a bridge.	Sitting on the vilypad was a bridge.
37	BAT	CHAIR	Grandma sits on her porch in a chair.	Grandma sits on her porch in a bat.	Dandma sits on her porch in a bat.
38	BOOK	TAPE	I fixed the torn page with a piece of tape.	I fixed the torn page with a piece of book.	I fixed the torn mage with a piece of book.
39	CLOWN	CARROT	The bunny nibbled a carrot.	The bunny nibbled a clown.	The trunny nibbled a clown.
40	GUNS	EGGS	For breakfast, I scrambled the eggs.	For breakfast, I scrambled the guns.	For deckfast, I scrambled the guns.
41	SHOES	PIG	Oink Oink, said the pig.	Oink Oink, said the shoes.	Oink oink, ked the shoes.
42	TRAIN	HAT	To keep the sun out of my face, I wear a hat.	To keep the sun out of my face, I wear a train.	To keep the pun out of my face, I wear a train.
43	HORSE	BAG	The boy put the groceries in a bag.	The boy put the groceries in a horse.	The zoy put the groceries in a horse.
44	BOAT	GLASSES	When Grandma reads, she needs her glasses.	When Grandma reads, she needs her boat.	When Bandma reads, she needs her boat.
45	FIRE	EYES	I wear sunglasses to shade my eyes.	I wear sunglasses to shade my fire.	I wear bunglasses to shade my fire.
46	PANTS	HEARTS	At Valentine’s day we drew lots of hearts.	At Valentine’s day we drew lots of pants.	At Shallentine’s day we drew lots of pants.
47	MAN	TABLE	At dinner, my family sits together at the table.	At dinner, my family sits together at the man.	At brinner, my family sits together at the man.
48	FLOWER	TRUCK	We moved our furniture on the back of a truck.	We moved our furniture on the back of a flower.	We moved our burniture on the back of a flower.
49	SALT	MAN	The boy will grow to become a man.	The boy will grow to become a salt.	The floy will grow to become a salt.
50	GLASSES	GUNS	Soldiers shoot with their guns.	Soldiers shoot with their glasses.	Noldiers shoot with their glasses.
51	FISH	PILLOW	She sleeps with her head on a pillow.	She sleeps with her head on a fish.	She sleeps with her med on a fish.
52	PIZZA	CLOCK	To see what time it is, look at a clock.	To see what time it is, look at a pizza.	To see what bime it is, look at a pizza.
53	RING	BAT	The vampire can turn into a bat.	The vampire can turn into a ring.	The kampire can turn into a ring.
54	WHEEL	RUBBER DUCKY	In the bathtub there is a floating little rubber ducky.	In the bathtub there is a floating little wheel.	In the plathtub, there is a floating little wheel.
55	SHIRT	EARS	The sound was so loud I had to cover my ears.	The sound was so loud I had to cover my shirt.	The gound was so loud I had to cover my shirt.
56	MOTORCYCLE	MONSTER	I was scared that under my bed there could be a monster.	I was scared that under my bed there could be a motorcycle.	I was scared that under my gred there could be a motorcycle.
57	CANDLE	SLIDE	At the playground I like to go down the slide.	At the playground I like to go down the candle.	At the tayground I like to go down the candle.
58	TABLE	BIRD	Inside the nest sat a beautiful bird.	Inside the nest sat a beautiful table.	Inside the frest sat a beautiful table.
59	ORANGES	SWINGS	At the playground the girl went on the swings.	At the playground the girl went on the oranges.	At the snayground the girl went on the oranges.
60	SPIDER	MONEY	The bank is where he keeps the money.	The bank is where he keeps the spider.	The hank is where he keeps the spider.
61	BEAR	SNOWMAN	I used 3 big snowballs to make a snowman.	I used 3 big snowballs to make a bear.	I used 3 big coballs to make a bear.
62	HAT	HORSE	The cowboy is very good at riding his horse.	The cowboy is very good at riding his hat.	The lowboy is very good at riding his hat.
63	BUTTON	SHIRT	I fell in the mud and have to put on a new shirt.	I fell in the mud and have to put on a new button.	I fell in the hud and have to put on a new button.
64	SHOVEL	KEY	You can open the locked door with the key.	You can open the locked door with the shovel.	You can open the locked bore with the shovel.
65	HAIR	CRAYONS	The coloring book comes with a box of crayons.	The coloring book comes with a box of hair.	The coloring hook comes with a box of hair.
66	BUTTERFLY	CEREAL	For breakfast, Mommy poured me a bowl of cereal.	For breakfast, Mommy poured me a bowl of butterfly.	For sleckfast, Mommy poured me a bowl of butterfly.
67	PIANO	BUTTERFLY	The caterpillar turned into a butterfly.	The caterpillar turned into a piano.	The matterpillar turned into a piano.
68	TRUCK	CLOWN	At the circus the girl saw the clown.	At the circus the girl saw the truck.	At the pircus the girl saw the truck.
69	BEE	CAR	Kids sit in the back seat of the car.	Kids sit in the back seat of the bee.	Spids sit in the back seat of the bee.
70	SHELL	GRASS	Cows eat a lot of grass.	Cows eat a lot of shell.	Zows eat a lot of shell.
71	WEB	FORK	I have a spoon but I need a fork.	I have a spoon but I need a web.	I have a woon but I need a web.
72	LEAF	TRAIN	The boy has a toy choo-choo train.	The boy has a toy choo-choo leaf.	The coy has a toy choo-choo leaf.
73	CASTLE	TV	Use the remote to change the channels on the tv.	Use the remote to change the channels on the castle.	Use the resote to change the channels on the castle.
74	TAPE	ORANGES	You can make juice from fresh squeezed oranges.	You can make juice from fresh squeezed tape.	You can make booce from fresh squeezed tape.
75	HEARTS	WHEEL	To drive the car, daddy turns the wheel.	To drive the car, daddy turns the hearts.	To mive the car, daddy turns the hearts.
76	STAIRS	WATCH	The man checked the time on his watch.	The man checked the time on his stairs.	The gan checked the time on his stairs.
77	SWINGS	FISH	The aquarium has many different fish.	The aquarium has many different swings.	The adarium has many different swings.
78	BELL	TREE	The apple grew on a tree.	The apple grew on a bell.	The spapple grew on a bell.
79	CARROT	HOUSE	There are 3 bedrooms in their house.	There are 3 bedrooms in their carrot.	There are three tedrooms in their carrot.
80	GIRAFFE	FIRE	We roasted marshmallows over the fire.	We roasted marshmallows over the giraffe.	We roasted sarshmallows over the giraffe.
81	PILLOW	DUCK	In the pond there was one quacking duck.	In the pond there was one quacking pillow.	In the lond there was one quacking pillow.
82	DOG	BED	I want to sleep in my bed.	I want to sleep in my dog.	I want to breep in my dog.
83	COWS	LEAF	The caterpillar is munching on a green leaf.	The caterpillar is munching on a green cows.	The saterpillar is munching on a green cows.
84	CHAIR	DRAGON	The brave knight killed the dragon.	The brave knight killed the chair.	The brave pight killed the chair.
85	CLOCK	DOG	I like to play fetch with my dog.	I like to play fetch with my clock.	I like to play betch with my clock.
86	DINOSAUR	PIANO	The girl took lessons to play the piano.	The girl took lessons to play the dinosaur.	The stirl took lessons to play the dinosaur.
87	SLIDE	BALL	I like to bounce the ball.	I like to bounce the slide.	I like to crounce the slide.
88	FORK	BUTTON	Daddy’s shirt was missing a button.	Daddy’s shirt was missing a fork.	Daddy’s kirt was missing a fork.
89	MONSTER	CANDLE	When we lost electricity, we had to light a candle.	When we lost electricity, we had to light a monster.	When we lost elecSISSity, we had to light a monster.
90	FROG	BELL	When recess ends, the teacher rings the bell.	When recess ends, the teacher rings the frog.	When seecess ends, the teacher rings the frog.
91	GHOST	BOAT	I went sailing on a boat.	I went sailing on a ghost.	I went bailing on a ghost.
92	NOSE	COWS	The farmer milked the cows.	The farmer milked the nose.	The marmer milked the nose.
93	ELEPHANT	FLAG	I pledge allegiance to the flag.	I pledge allegiance to the elephant.	I pledge asSEEgiance to the elephant.
94	POOL	ZEBRA	At the zoo I fed the black and white-striped zebra.	At the zoo I fed the black and white-striped pool.	At the oo I fed the black and white-striped pool.
95	BABY	WITCH	Riding on a broom was an old, mean witch.	Riding on a broom was an old, mean baby.	Riding on a shoom was an old, mean baby.
96	WITCH	BEAR	In the woods lived a big, growly bear.	In the woods lived a big, growly witch.	In the oods lived a big, growly witch.
97	EYES	SANTA	On Christmas, mommy left cookies for santa.	On Christmas, mommy left cookies for eyes.	On Sistmas, mommy left cookies for eyes.
98	ANTS	GIRLS	There is one bathroom for the boys, and one for girls.	There is one bathroom for the boys, and one for ants.	There is one hathroom for the boys, and one for ants.
99	BANANA	BRIDGE	To cross the river, we walked on a bridge.	To cross the river, we walked on a banana.	To cross the sivver, we walked on a banana.
100	RUBBER DUCKY	ELEPHANT	I wish I had a trunk like that elephant.	I wish I had a trunk like that rubber ducky.	I wish I had a plunk like that rubber ducky.