Presents the gating paradigm as it is used in spoken word recognition research. In this task, a spoken-language stimulus is presented in segments of increasing duration and subjects are asked to propose the word being presented and to give a confidence rating after each segment. The advantages and problems associated with this task are discussed.…

To succeed at reading, children must be able to identify or "read" printed words and understand the story or text composed of those words. For many children, increasing reading and school success will involve increasing oral language competence in the elementary years. Lack of appropriate vocabulary knowledge can result in academic failure. (SM)

Examines options for computer support for reading text within a supportive reading environment called "Responsive Text." Notes that Responsive Text is one of a number of programs that utilize computer speech in concert with graphics, text manipulation, and questions, to make text more accessible to poor readers while providing reading instruction…

Presents a conception of word recognition involving both phonological and orthographic processes. Discusses three explanations about the origin of orthographic processes in word recognition, and suggests that automatic orthographic word recognition is directly dependent on children's amount of reading practice in an out-of-school setting.…

This research analyzed the combined results of three meta-analyses which examined the extent to which a variety of measures of specific abilities related to reading. More than 450 studies were reviewed and almost 11,000 different coefficients were analyzed. The best predictors of reading proved to be other written language abilities (i.e.,…

Research on how the brain implements reading has produced results of remarkable consistency, especially on the functional anatomy of single word reading. We examine the general features of this emerging knowledge and draw attention to the extent to which it converges with results from other methods of reading science in several areas: reading…

Previous work indicates that semantic categorization decisions for nonexemplars (e.g., deciding that TURBAN is not an animal name) are faster for high-frequency words than low-frequency words. However, there is evidence that this result might depend on category size. When narrow categories are used (e.g., Months, Numbers), there is no frequency…

D. C. Plaut and J. R. Booth presented a parallel distributed processing model that purports to simulate human lexical decision performance. This model (and D. C. Plaut, 1995) offers a single mechanism account of the pattern of factor effects on reaction time (RT) between semantic priming, word frequency, and stimulus quality without requiring a…

Two experiments explore the activation of semantic information during spoken word recognition. Experiment 1 shows that as the name of an object unfolds (e.g., lock), eye movements are drawn to pictorial representations of both the named object and semantically related objects (e.g., key). Experiment 2 shows that objects semantically related to an…

Vocabulary knowledge contributes to comprehension, fluency, and student achievement. The goal of vocabulary instruction should be to build students' independent word-learning strategies. This article provides research and theory in support of nine key ideas about words and vocabulary instruction. These ideas are important for middle and secondary…

Reports on an experiment conducted to determine that recognizability of loanwords in Russian by English-speaking college students and whether there is any correlation between recognition skill and the students' level of language study. Concludes that loanwards are not readily recognizable at any level and that the overall skill in recognition does…

Making and Writing Words is a variation of Making Words, a popular spelling and word study instructional activity. In Making and Writing Words, students are guided by their teacher in writing and sorting words using a limited set of letters, then students write the words on a sheet of paper designed to accommodate the activity. Teachers have found…

Describes two variants of the form-priming paradigm (direct and mediated form priming) and summarizes the results obtained with each. With both variants, participants are presented with a target, to which a response is required, preceded by a prime. (28 references) (Author/CK)

Notes that the primary use of sequence monitoring has been to determine which linguistic units are involved in word recognition and how these units might differ across languages. The task involves presenting subjects with targets either congruent or incongruent with a linguistic unit in the target-bearing item. The article focuses on the…

When encountering a word for the first time, information about it is connected to information from the context. There are four levels of word knowledge: never having seen it before; having heard of it but not knowing what it means; recognizing it in context; and knowing it. A full and flexible knowledge of a word involves understanding the core…