The Role of Semantics in Spanish Word Recognition

An Insight from Lexical Decision and Categorization Tasks

Bibliographic Data

ID21240031
AuthorsCristina Izura (0000-0001-9656-4553, Swansea University, corresponding author), Natividad Hernández-Muñoz (Universidad de Salamanca)
Year2017
Volume3
Issue1
Publication date2017-10-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOpen Linguistics (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2300-9969 • E-ISSN: 2300-9969
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/opli-2017-0025
OpenAlexW2767988741
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited19

This study examines the factors affecting word recognition in a language with a consistent system to map letters into sounds; Spanish. The influence of semantics on the recognition of words in languages with inconsistent mappings, such as English, is well documented. Not much is known for other languages. A lexical decision task and two category verification tasks with varying levels of semantic complexity were used. In contrast to English, none of the semantic variables entered into the analyses had a significant impact on lexical decision latencies or errors. Imageability showed an influence on responses to both category verification tasks while the effect of connectivity was marginally significant in the category verification task with the greatest semantic complexity. Results indicate that word recognition decisions can be made without the involvement of central components of the semantic system. The role of semantics in word recognition in languages with consistent spelling systems will be discussed

Categorization · Cognition · Lexical decision task · Lexical item · Lexical Semantics · Linguistics · Natural language processing · Spelling · Word recognition · Computer Science · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development · Second Language Acquisition and Learning · Artificial Intelligence

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Open DOISci-HubOpen Access