Resumen de The Role of Phonological Decoding in Second Language Word-Meaning Inference
Two hypotheses were tested: Similarity between first language (L1) and second language (L2) orthographic processing facilitates L2-decoding efficiency; and L2-decoding efficiency contributes to word-meaning inference to different degrees among L2 learners with diverse L1 orthographic backgrounds. The participants were college-level English as a second language (ESL) learners with either alphabetic or logographic L1 backgrounds. Response speed and accuracy of English real- and pseudoword naming served as the decoding efficiency measure. The participants read three passages that contained pseudowords and inferred their meanings. Results showed that (i) alphabetic, as opposed to logographic, L1 background was associated with better decoding; (ii) the groups did not differ in meaning-inference performance; and (iii) the relationship between decoding efficiency and meaning-inference was stronger in the alphabetic group.
