Cited by 100Reading and Literacy DevelopmentSecond Language Acquisition and LearningLanguage Development and Disorders

Flexibility in young second‐language learners: examining the language specificity of orthographic processing

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Deacon, S. Hélène, Wade‐Woolley, Lesly, Kirby, John R.·2009·Journal of Research in Reading

Abstract

This study examines whether orthographic processing transfers across languages to reading when the writing systems under acquisition are sufficiently related. We conducted a study with 76 7‐year‐old English‐first‐language children in French immersion. Measures of English and French orthographic processing (orthographic choice tasks) and standardised measures of English and French word reading (Woodcock and FIAT) were taken, in addition to verbal and nonverbal ability, and phonological and morphological awareness. Analyses reveal significant contributions of orthographic processing to reading both within and across the two languages, despite the inclusion of control variables. Findings of the transfer of orthographic processing skills to reading across languages suggest that orthographic processing may not be as language specific as previously hypothesised. We discuss the several similarities between English and French, such as a shared alphabet and cognates, that may drive transfer across languages in the context of current theories of second‐language reading development.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1467-9817.2009.01392.x

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  • The treatment group's improved achievements in Arabic and Hebrew morphological awareness can be attributed to the group's improvement in English morphological awareness skills, suggesting transfer of morphological awareness skills from English L3 to Arabic L1 and Hebrew L2.

    “Therefore, the treatment group's improved achievements in Arabic and Hebrew morphological awareness can be attributed to the group's improvement in English morphological awareness skills, suggesting the transfer of morphological awareness skills from English as an L3 to Arabic as the L1 and Hebrew as the L2”

    From Cognitive Retroactive Transfer (CRT) of Language Skills among Trilingual Arabic-Hebrew and English Learners (2014) · cites this paper as Deacon et al., 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Abu-Rabia, S. (1997). Verbal and working memory skills of bilingual Hebrew-English speaking children. International Journal of Psycholinguistics, 13, 25-40.
  2. Dunn, L.M. & Dunn, L.M. (1997). Peabody picture vocabulary test-third edition: Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Services.

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Authors
Deacon, S. H., Wade‐Woolley, L., & Kirby, J. R.
Affiliations
  • Dalhousie University (CA)
  • Queen's University (CA)
Venue
Journal of Research in Reading
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-04-14
Volume
32
Issue
2
Pages
215-229
ISSN
  • 0141-0423 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9817
OpenAlex
W2011208654
Cited by
100
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
FWCI
10.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Journal of Research in Reading (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
Keywords
orthographic processing, second language reading, language transfer, language specificity, French immersion, early literacy, orthographic choice, phonological awareness, morphological awareness, cognates, French-English bilingualism

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