# Is spoken language all-or-nothing? Implications for future speech-based human-machine interaction

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1607.05174 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1607.05174/

## Key facts

- Cited by 4 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 18 Jul 2016.

## Built on by (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Spoken Conversational Agents with Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.02593/) (2025)
- [What Do We See in Them? Identifying Dimensions of Partner Models for Speech Interfaces Using a Psycholexical Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.02094/) (2021)
- [LGBTQ-AI? Exploring Expressions of Gender and Sexual Orientation in Chatbots](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.02076/) (2021)
- [Whither the Priors for (Vocal) Interactivity?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.08578/) (2022)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Recent years have seen significant market penetration for voice-based personal assistants such as Apple's Siri. However, despite this success, user take-up is frustratingly low. This position paper argues that there is a habitability gap caused by the inevitable mismatch between the capabilities and expectations of human users and the features and benefits provided by contemporary technology. Suggestions are made as to how such problems might be mitigated, but a more worrisome question emerges: "is spoken language all-or-nothing"? The answer, based on contemporary views on the special nature of (spoken) language, is that there may indeed be a fundamental limit to the interaction that can take place between mismatched interlocutors (such as humans and machines). However, it is concluded that interactions between native and non-native speakers, or between adults and children, or even between humans and dogs, might provide critical inspiration for the design of future speech-based human-machine interaction.