Investigating orthographic effects on speech perception and speech production using a word learning approach
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
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Publications
Rastle K
(2011)
Orthography influences the perception and production of speech.
in Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition
Samantha McCormick (Author)
(2011)
Investigating orthographic effects on speech processing : a word learning approach
Samantha McCormick (Author)
(2011)
A word learning approach to investigating orthographic effects on speech processing
Linda Bayliss (author)
(2011)
How are lexical decisions to word targets influenced by unrelated masked primes?
Samantha McCormick (Author)
(2012)
Investigating orthographic effects on speech processing : a word learning approach
| Description | Spoken language has primacy over written language. Before acquiring skills in reading and writing, most people have developed relative competence in understanding and producing speech.Thus it is unsurprising that experience with the sounds of words plays a powerful role in the adult and developing reader. The present research capitalised on recent methodological advances in the area of word learning to investigate the more intriguing question of whether the acquisition of literacy comes to influence one's spoken language abilities. This small ESRC research grant provided support (£79,061) for us to develop an approach to investigating this question and to conduct two experiments using that approach. In these experiments, participants were trained on novel objects whose spoken names were spelled in a regular manner or in an unusual manner. Following a period of overnight consolidation, participants were given various speech perception and speech production tasks relevant to the novel words. Results showed a substantial impact of the spellings of the novel words on participants' spoken language processing of them. Specifically, participants showed slower speech processing of those novel words that were spelled in an unusual manner. These findings support a conceptualisation of the language system as reflecting massive interactivity, whereby the spelling of a word can influence the way that it is aurally perceived or produced, and whereby the sound of a word can influence the way that it is read. They pose challenges for current theories of speech perception and speech production, and emphasise the importance of a sound and effective literacy strategy during schooling. |
| Exploitation Route | already reported |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | Mechanisms of orthographic word learning |
| Amount | £58,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2011 |
| End | 08/2013 |
| Description | Mechanisms of orthographic word learning |
| Amount | £58,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2011 |
| End | 08/2013 |
| Description | From specific examples to general knowledge in language learning |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the meeting of the LiLAC researcher-practitioner network. Developed new connections with relevant professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Mechanisms of skilled reading |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture at Royal Holloway, University of London N/A |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |