What is meant by bottom-up processing in listening comprehension?

Bottom-up processing in listening comprehension refers to the process of understanding a message by interpreting the individual elements of the spoken language, such as sounds, words, and phrases, to construct meaning. This approach starts with the most basic units of language and builds up to form a complete understanding of what is being communicated.

In the context of listening comprehension, this means that a listener focuses on the specific words and sounds that are received during communication, piecing them together to figure out the overall meaning of the message. This is an essential skill because it allows listeners to grasp the fundamental aspects of the spoken words before integrating them into a broader context or overall message.

Real-world examples include understanding unfamiliar spoken phrases by analyzing sounds and words while relying less on prior background knowledge or situational context. In short, bottom-up processing is critical for accurately constructing meaning from auditory information received.