Poster #17 - Is the Consonant Primacy Script-Universal or Script-Specific? Evidence From Non-Roman Script Korean Hangul

• In Event: 28.093 - MTCC Poster Session Five
  In Poster Session: 28.093-2 - Research in Reading and Literacy

Abstract

Given the well-documented consonant primacy established in Roman script, this study examined the role of consonants and vowels in lexical decision of Korean Hangul among skilled Korean readers in order to identify whether the salient role of consonants over vowels would be script-universal or script-specific. Two priming experiments were carried out with consonant and vowel primes in linearity (e.g., ㅇㄴㅅㅁ –인삼 vs. ㅈㅎㅂㄱ– 인삼; Experiment 1) and those in syllabic blocks (e.g., – 침술, – 불법; Experiment 2). Results showed that significant consonant priming effects were not found compared to those of vowels in neither linear nor block formats. Taken together, the findings suggest that the consonant primacy effect may not fully extend to non-Roman script Hangul recognition and be script-specific.

Authors

• Hye K. Pae, University of Cincinnati

• Sungbong Bae, Yeungnam University

• Kwang Oh Yi, Yeungnam University