The Role of the First Character Frequency in Low-Frequency Two-Character Words in Parafoveal Processing in Chinese Reading

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2022.03.004

Abstract

Abstract: To investigate the effect of processing load on character frequency during parafoveal processing, we selected low-frequency two-character words with different frequencies as parafoveal target words. At the same time, the boundary paradigm was used to manipulate the preview types of the first character in target word (identical preview vs. pseudo-character preview). An eye tracker was used to record eye movements of the participants during reading. A significant preview effect was found on both the first characters and the whole words of the target words. Participants spent shorter fixation time on target words when the first character of the target word was unmasked compared to that masked by pseudo-character. The main effect of character frequency on the gaze duration and total fixation time of target words was significant, and the gaze duration and total fixation time of low-frequency characters were significantly longer than that of high-frequency characters. However, there was no interaction between the two. The results showed that the preview effect is not influenced by the character frequency of the low-frequency two-character word, but the recognition of the low frequency word is affected by the frequency of the first character.

Key words: parafoveal processing, character frequency, preview effect, Chinese reading

摘要： 为探讨副中央凹字的加工负荷在预视加工中的作用，选择高、低首字字频的低频双字词作为副中央凹目标词，同时采用边界范式操纵目标词首字的预视类型（包括目标预视和假字预视）。使用眼动仪记录读者的阅读过程。结果在目标词首字与整词上均发现了显著的预视效应，目标预视下的注视时间显著短于假字预视下的注视时间；在目标词的凝视时间和总注视时间上，字频主效应显著，首字低频条件下的注视时间显著长于首字高频条件；但没有发现两因素的交互作用。结果表明副中央凹低频双字词首字字频并不影响预视效应的大小。

关键词: 副中央凹加工, 字频, 预视效应, 汉语阅读

CLC Number:

B842

WANG Yongsheng, HE Liyuan, LI Xin, BAI Xuejun. The Role of the First Character Frequency in Low-Frequency Two-Character Words in Parafoveal Processing in Chinese Reading[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 311-317.

王永胜, 何立媛, 李馨, 白学军. 副中央凹低频双字词首字字频的预视效应研究[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2022, 20(3): 311-317.

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