Effects of Number of Syllables and Moras on Reading Performance in Young Japanese Children

DOI Web Site Web Site
  • SAKONO Shino
    Division of Education and Development Science for Individuals With Special Needs, United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University
  • ITO Tomohiko
    Tokyo Gakugei University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 幼児の読みに及ぼす音節とモーラの影響
  • ヨウジ ノ ヨミ ニ オヨボス オンセツ ト モーラ ノ エイキョウ

Search this article

Abstract

The number of syllables in words has been reported to affect the number of errors made when reading English. However, few studies have been done on the effect of number of syllables on reading performance in Japanese. The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of the number of syllables and moras on reading performance in typical young Japanese children. Participants were 37 nursery school children (5 to 6 years old). The stimuli were 4 kinds of non-words: 1-syllable 1-mora (e.g.,み/mi/), 1-syllable 2-mora (e.g.,みん/mi-n/), 2-syllable 2-mora (e.g.,みひ/mi-hi/),and 2-syllable 3-mora (e.g.,みひん/mi-hi-n/). There were 5 samples of each pattern. The children were asked to read the stimulus words as fast as possible. The mean number of errors for each word was very low (fewer than 0.5 errors per 5 words). A significant difference was observed between the shortest stimuli (1-syllable 1-mora) and the longest ones (2-syllable 3-mora), and between the next shortest stimuli (1-syllable 2-mora) and the longest ones. The mean reading time was significantly shorter for 1-syllable 1-mora stimuli than for 1-syllable 2-mora stimuli, and for 2-syllable 2-mora stimuli than for 2-syllable 3-mora ones. Reading time was also significantly shorter for 1-syllable 2-mora stimuli than for 2-syllable 2-mora ones. These results suggest that the number of both syllables and moras affects young children's reading time in Japanese. However, a smaller effect was observed in the number of errors.

Journal

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top