Processing compounds: A cross-linguistic study

Brain Lang. 1999 Jun;68(1-2):362-9. doi: 10.1006/brln.1999.2088.

Abstract

This study explores the role of semantic transparency and morphological headedness in the on-line visual recognition of French and Bulgarian compounds using a constituent repetition priming paradigm. The results reported show significant constituent priming effects for both languages. Moreover, distinct priming patterns emerged, demonstrating that the semantic transparency of individual constituents, their position in the string, and morphological headedness interact in the processing of compounds.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bulgaria
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psycholinguistics*
  • Reaction Time
  • Semantics
  • Visual Perception / physiology