Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
06:33
Decomposing the Variance in Reading Comprehension to Reveal the Unique and Common Effects of Language and Decoding
Published on: October 11, 2018
7.2K
EPS mid-career prize lecture 2017: Writing systems, reading, and language
1Royal Holloway, University of London, UK.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|February 16, 2019
Summary
Skilled reading develops from written language experience. Written language has evolved distinct features from spoken language, enhancing information transmission and enabling rapid reading acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Linguistics
- Neuroscience of language
Background:
- Skilled reading is traditionally linked to spoken language, influencing research on reading acquisition.
- Existing models often overlook the unique properties of written language itself.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that written language has diverged from spoken language to optimize information transmission.
- To argue this divergence is key to developing rapid, skilled reading.
- To explore how writing systems shape reading.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the English writing system as a case study.
- Examination of the relationship between spelling, sound, and meaning in written English.
- Theoretical argumentation based on linguistic principles.
Main Results:
- English spelling-sound inconsistencies create strong spelling-meaning regularities.
- These regularities are crucial for rapid word analysis in skilled readers.
- Written language possesses unique characteristics that facilitate efficient reading.
Conclusions:
- The evolution of writing systems significantly impacts reading processes.
- Understanding written language is essential for a comprehensive theory of reading.
- Reading proficiency is intrinsically tied to the structure of the writing system.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Language
906
Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
906
02:46Uncertainty in Measurement: Reading Instruments
51.5K
Counting is the type of measurement that is free from uncertainty, provided the number of objects being counted does not change during the process. Such measurements result in exact numbers. By counting the eggs in a carton, for instance, one can determine exactly how many eggs are there in the carton. Similarly, the numbers of defined quantities are also exact. For example, 1 foot is exactly 12 inches, 1 inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, and 1 gram is exactly 0.001 kilograms. Quantities...
51.5K
01:21EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research
3.4K
Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells are excellent models for disease research because of their ability to self-renew and differentiate into most cell types. Somatic cells from a patient are isolated and reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs. These iPSCs are later differentiated into the desired cell type, which mirrors the diseased cell of the patient. In this way, disease models have been created for investigating diseases such as Down syndrome, type I diabetes,...
3.4K
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
3.8K
When developing expected outcomes for a patient care plan, the nurse should adhere to the following recommendations:
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
3.8K
01:24Components of Language
809
Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
809
01:22Language Development
894
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
894