Speech intelligibility depends chiefly on direct sound, not the reverberant field.

Evidence

In addition, it also has an effect on speech intelligibility in reverberant spaces, as the direct sound is the major component of the sound that provides this. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1792

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies that intelligibility is carried by direct sound—the exception to reverberation’s dominance.