Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Faculty/School
Faculty of Science
First Advisor
Alexandra Gottardo
Advisor Role
Thesis Supervisor
Abstract
The current study compared the reading and phonological performance of younger and older Chinese-speaking children who learned to read English as a second language in Canada. Parallel measures of reading, phonological processing, orthographic processing, and oral language proficiency were administered in English and Chinese to 25 younger children (Grades 1 and 2) and 26 older children (Grades 5 and 6). Phonological processing skill in English and Chinese were intercorrelated and correlated with English reading performance in both age groups. For the younger children, English phonological processing skill was a unique predictor of English reading performance. Conversely, for the older children, Chinese phonological processing skill was a unique predictor of English reading performance. These results are discussed in terms of linguistic and cognitive mechanisms as well as developmental and environmental causes involved in the process of second language reading acquisition. The practical implications of the findings are also discussed.
Recommended Citation
Gu, Yan, "Investigating age factors in cross-language transfer of phonological processing across English and Chinese languages" (2004). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 748.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/748
Convocation Year
2004
Convocation Season
Spring