Orthographies and their phonologies: A hypothesis

Abstract

Different orthographies produce qualitatively different phonological codes when subjects are forced to use a phonological code to access the lexical/semantic system. The phonological code that subserves the reading of syllabic Japanese is more closely tied to articulatory activity than is the phonological code utilized for reading alphabetic English. An experiment is suggested and described that would capitalize on characteristics of Serbo-Croatian orthography in order to discriminate among alternative accounts of this difference between the phonological readings of Japanese Kana and alphabetic English. © 1990, The Psychonomic Soceity, Inc.. All rights reserved.