Changes in conversational behavior across noise, language proficiency, and task

Conversational turn-taking is a core feature of spoken interaction, yet prior research has typically examined the effects of background noise, second-language use, and task demands separately or in limited combinations, often under constrained or artificial conditions. While speakers can adapt to each challenge individually, little is known about how these factors jointly shape the flow and structure of natural dialogue. In this study, pairs of normal-hearing, native Ukrainian bilinguals engaged in both spontaneous, free-form conversations and a structured “spot the difference” task (Diapix UK) across quiet and noisy settings, in both their native (Ukrainian) and second (English) languages. This fully crossed, within-pair design enables a systematic comparison of how language, noise, and task interact to influence behavioral changes in speech production (e.g., articulation rate, vocal intensity) and conversational dynamics (e.g., floor transfer offsets, interpausal units, pause duration, and turn length). Findings from this work will advance our understanding of how multiple simultaneous demands shape spontaneous conversation, revealing how bilingual speakers manage timing, coordination, and clarity under both cognitive and environmental pressure.