motor theory

noun

The hypothesis that people perceive spoken words by identifying the vocal tract gestures with which they are pronounced rather than by identifying the sound patterns generated by speech.

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Meanings

nounmotor theory (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe hypothesis that people perceive spoken words by identifying the vocal tract gestures with which they are pronounced rather than by identifying the sound patterns generated by speech.
Cite this entry
APA

motor theory. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motor%20theory

MLA

“motor theory.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motor%20theory. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “motor theory,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/motor%20theory.

Source: motor theory on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.