Which type of neighborhood can be easier for recognition?

In the context of speech recognition, sparse neighborhoods refer to word groups where there is a greater phonetic distance between words or where words are less similar to one another. This greater distance makes it easier for individuals to distinguish and recognize specific words, particularly in noisy environments or when faced with competition from similar-sounding words.

This contrasts with dense neighborhoods, where words are closely related phonetically and may sound similar, making it more difficult for listeners to accurately identify which specific word is being spoken. Because of the increased distinctiveness in sparse neighborhoods, recognition becomes clearer and less challenging, enhancing understanding, especially for individuals with hearing loss or those undergoing aural rehabilitation.