The literate brain

Question 1

Logographs

Answer 1

Written languages based on the one-word-one-symbol principle.

Question 2

Kanji

Answer 2

A Japanese writing system based on the logographic principle.

Question 3

Kana

Answer 3

A Japanse writing system in which each character denotes a syllable.

Question 4

Grapheme

Answer 4

The smallest meaningful unit of written language.

Question 5

Opaque orthography

Answer 5

A system of written language with an irregular (or semi-regular) correspondence between phonemes and graphemes.

Question 6

Transparent orthography

Answer 6

A system of written language with a regular correspondence beween phonemes and graphemes.

Question 7

Word superiority effect

Answer 7

It is easier to detect the presence of a single letter presented briefly if the letter is presented in the context of a word.

Question 8

Lexical decision

Answer 8

A two-way forced-choice judgment about whether a letter string (or phoneme string) is a word or not.

Question 9

Visual lexicon

Answer 9

A store of the structure of known written words.

Question 10

Pure alexia

Answer 10

A difficulty in reading words in which reading time increases proportionately to the length of the word.

Question 11

Peripheral dyslexia

Answer 11

Disruption of reading arising up to the level of computation of a visual word form.

Question 12

Central dyslexia

Answer 12

Disruption of reading arising after computation of a visual word form (e.g., in accessing meaning, or translating to speech).

Question 13

Fixation

Answer 13

A stationary pause between eye movements.

Question 14

Phonological mediation

Answer 14

The claim that accessing the spoken forms of words is an obligatory component of understanding visually presented words.

Question 15

Homophone

Answer 15

Words that sound the same but have different meanings (and often different spellings), e.g., ROWS and ROSE.

Question 16

Surface dyslexia

Answer 16

Ability to read nonwords and regularly spelled words better than irregularly spelled words.

Question 17

Phonological dyslexia

Answer 17

Ability to read real words better than nonwords.

Question 18

Deep dyslexia

Answer 18

Real words are read better than nonwords, and semantic errors are made in reading.

Question 19

Developmental dyslexia

Answer 19

Problems in literacy acquisition that cannot be attributed to lack of opportunity, or basic sensory deficits.

Question 20

Phonological awareness

Answer 20

The ability to explicitly segment a speech stream into units such as syllables, rimes and phonemes.

Question 21

Dysgraphia

Answer 21

Difficulties in spelling and writing.

Question 22

Graphemic buffer

Answer 22

A short-term memory component that maintains a string of abstract letter identities while output processes (for writing, typing etc.) are engaged.

Question 23

Allograph

Answer 23

Letters that are specified for shape (e.g., case print versus script).

Question 24

Graph

Answer 24

Letters that are specified in terms of stroke order, size and direction.

Question 25

Afferent dysgraphia

Answer 25

Stroke ommisions and additions in writing that may be dure to poor use of visual and kinesthetic feedback.