What would likely hinder recognition in a lexical neighborhood?

Recognition in a lexical neighborhood is influenced significantly by the density of similar words surrounding a target word. When there is a dense network of similar words, it can create confusion and competition for recognition. The brain has to process many similar sounds or meanings at once, making it more challenging to isolate and identify the correct word. This is particularly relevant in contexts where someone is trying to understand spoken language, as the close similarity in phonetic structure between words can lead to misrecognition or slower processing times.

In contrast, having a few similar words tends to allow for quicker recognition because there are fewer confounding options to consider. Clear distinctions between word meanings can aid recognition as well by providing sufficient semantic cues. A lack of word familiarity worsens recognition but typically isn't as impactful as the presence of competing words in a dense network when it comes to lexical neighborhoods. Hence, the dense network of similar words is the most significant factor hindering recognition.