The Role Of Phonetic Radicals In The Phonetic And Semantic Activation Of Phonogram Characters

Most phonogram characters are composed of semantic radicals,which represents semantic information,and phonetic radicals,which implies the pronunciation of phonogram characters.Since phonetic radicals can independently form into characters,whether the semantic meaning of phonetic radicals in the phonogram characters can be activated is still controversial.According to the Hierarchical Model,the semantic activation of phonetic radicals is possible,which could have an influence on subsequent character identification.Although a few studies have explored the effect of phonetic radicals on the recognition of phonogram characters,one neglected problem is whether or not semantic activation of phonetic radicals could have an effect on the identification of phonogram characters.Therefore,exploring the role of semantic activation of phonetic radicals in phonetics and semantic retrieval of phonogram characters using the method of behavioral experiment has become a pressing task.The specific questions of this research are as follows:(1)Can the semantic meaning of phonetic radicals in phonogram character recognition be activated?(2)If it can be activated,will the semantic activation of phonetic radicals affect the phonetics retrieval of phonogram characters?(3)If it can be activated,will the semantic activation of phonetic radicals affect the semantics retrieval of phonogram characters?In order to answer the questions mentioned above,two E-prime experiments have been conducted.The first experiment conducts a 2(prime type:related prime vs.control prime)×3(target type: irregular target vs.semi-regular target vs.regular target)two-factors within-subjects experimental design.The experimental material includes 48 target words,48 radical related prime words,48 radical control prime words.And also 48 Chinese pseudowords were created in order to balance the number of readable words and unreadable pseudowords.36 subjects were chosen from Sichuan International Studies University who are all postgraduate students majoring in English.The participants in the first experiment are required to perform a readable decision,i.e.to judge the target character is readable or unreadable.The response time and correct rate of the subjects are recorded during the process of experiment.The second experiment conducts a 2(prime type: radical related prime vs.radical control prime)×2(prime type: sonogram related prime vs.sonogram control prime)×3(target type:irregular target vs.semi-regular target vs.regular target)three-factors withinsubjects experimental design.The experimental material consists of the same 48 target words,48 radical related prime words,and 48 radical control prime words in Experiment One,also including 48 sinogram related prime words,48 sinogram control prime words.The subjects and experimental process are the same with the first experiment.The research results are as follows:1)The results of experiment one indicated that,the main effect of prime type(F(1,36)=54.648,P=.000<.05)is significant,and the main effect of target type(F(1,36)=110.506,P=.000<.05)is significant,and there is a significant prime type × target type(F(1,36)=75.993,P=.000<.05).It can be concluded that the semantic meaning of phonetic radicals in phonogram character recognition can be activated,and the semantic activation of phonetic radicals affect the phonetics retrieval of phonogram characters.2)The results of experiment two indicated that,the main effect of radical prime type(F(1,36)=362.409,P=.000<.05)is significant,and the main effect of sinogram prime type(F(1,36)=13.333,P=.000<.05)is significant,and the main effect of target type(F(1,36)=282.714,P=.000<.05)is significant.It can be concluded that the semantic meaning of phonetic radicals in phonogram character recognition can be activated,and semantic activation of phonetic radicals affect the semantics retrieval of phonogram characters.In conclusion,the semantic meaning of phonetic radicals in phonogram character recognition can be activated,and semantic activation of phonetic radicals affect the phonetics retrieval of phonogram characters,and also affect the semantics retrieval of phonogram characters.