Trust in Talking Robots: The Role of Language and Dialect, Reveals German Study
Summary:
A German study explored the correlation between language and trust in communicating robots. The research involved 120 participants who assessed the trustworthiness of a robot communicating in standard German and a local Berlin dialect. Results showed individual preferences vary, with influences ranging from personal language preference to the type of device used for interaction. The study underscores that different audiences might trust a machine differently based purely on the dialect used by the robot.
German researchers recently conducted a study to understand the role language plays in human perception of trust in conversing robots. The study aimed to see whether standard language or a local dialect would make a robot appear more trustworthy to humans. The study involved 120 participants native to Germany, who were shown videos of a small robot speaking both in a commonly spoken German dialect as well as a local Berlin dialect. Participants were then asked to rate the trustworthiness of each. The research results were not clear cut, in that people displayed diverse preferences. According to the leading author of the study, Katharina Kühne, while some participants were inclined towards robots speaking in a dialect, others preferred standard language.
Quoting Nelson Mandela's idea, previous research indicates that communicating in a person's native language resonates more. But the German researchers also pointed out that “accentism”, a favour towards more dominant dialect due to perceived prestige or competence, can have an impact. In some instances, people may find greater comfort and preference in a local dialect that aligns with theirs.
In this research, the use of standard language by robots was linked to increased trustworthiness and likeability, likely because of the in-group bias and accentism. However, other studies showed participants more inclined towards robots that communicated in a dialect. The variation in perceptions is not just based on the individual’s language preference, but also the device used for interaction.
Mobile device users like phones or tablets favoured standard German speakers whereas those using PCs showed a general preference towards dialect speakers. Some potential reasons could be the high cognitive load of mobile users or the smaller screen size, leading to a wariness of the more colloquial voice. The study's findings underscore that different audiences could have varying levels of trust in a machine simply based on its choice of dialect.
Published At
1/29/2024 10:50:00 PM
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