Introduces the articles in this special issue. Reviews research on linguistic processes in reading across orthographies. Concludes that these articles contribute to the understanding of factors affecting development of efficient reading in first and second languages; they also help to ameliorate the relative silence in the reading literature about…

Examines the "sib pair" method of linkage analysis designed to locate genes influencing dyslexia, which has several advantages over the "LOD" score method. Notes that the sib pair analysis was able to detect the same linkages as the LOD method, plus a possible third region. Confirms that the sib pair method is an effective means of screening. (RS)

Evaluates a substantially updated version of the "classical" idea of a significant relationship in dyslexic children between cerebral lateralization and their word decoding deficits. Finds further evidence that dyslexia is not related to incomplete lateralization. Suggests that dyslexics suffer from exuberant right hemisphere processing in…

Fits spelling data from identical and fraternal twins to a basic multiple regression model. Finds that about 60% of the deficit of probands was due to heritable influences. Finds a nonsignificant sex difference. Suggests collaborative analyses of data from additional twin studies of reading disability to facilitate more rigorous tests. (RS)

Applies theoretical reasoning concerning transitional knowledge to a problem in literacy development. Examines a longitudinal data set composed of 46 children each of whom completed 6 stories over a 2-year period. Suggests that detecting children who are in transition for emergent to conventional literacy has critical implications for classroom…

Examines effects of several lexical and sublexical variables (lexical category and frequency, syllabic structure, word length) in reading acquisition in a transparent language--Spanish. Compares effects of variables in 140 normal and poor young readers. Finds that all variables produced a significant effect on the number of errors made by the…

Presents two studies using Verstaen et al.'s method that occasionally replicates null phonemic masking effects, but challenges their interpretation. Reflects an inherent instability in the perception of homophones. Demonstrates that this instability is directly due to reliance on phonology, rather than to its control. (SG)

Presents the use and development of analogical processes in learning to read in Spanish. Finds that 6-year-old children show logical effects in reading pseudowords, and the magnitude of this effect is the same with 10-year-olds. Cautions that 10-year-olds make more lexicalizations when reading pseudowords and that 9-year-olds can make more…

Reports a case study of an acquired dyslexic subject who showed no evidence of having any access to sublexical phonological information. Notes, however, that the subject showed normal effects of spelling regularity for low-frequency words, suggesting sublexical phonological processing. Suggests that the types of explicit tasks previously used are…

Looks at the link between children's understanding of a morphemically-based orthographic rule and their awareness of morphemic distinctions. Questions the orthographic rule of using the apostrophe to denote possession in English. Concludes that different forms of linguistic awareness affect different aspects of reading and spelling. (SC)

Indicates that during a motor sequencing task, dyslexic students anticipated the signal of an isochronic pacing metronome by intervals that were two or three times as long as those of age matched normal readers or normal adults. Discusses the implications of the findings for temporal information processing deficits on one hand, and impaired…

Investigates the effects of two specific Hebrew nominal word structures and word length on the latency and accuracy of grade school children's reading of words. Reports and analyzes the differences in the reading of the two morphological structures and word lengths to draw conclusions about their effects on reading performance. Indicates that…

Examines the phonological deficit hypothesis in developmental dyslexia with readers in Chinese. Compares 56 Chinese dyslexic children with average readers of the same age in phonological awareness and phonological memory skills. Suggests that Chinese children with dyslexia have deficits in processing phonological information like their alphabetic…

Examines (longitudinally) contributions of naming speed measured on serial-list and various discrete-trial formats to several reading subskills to determine their impact independent of other reading-related skills on reading disabilities. Tests 38 poor and average readers in grades 2, 3, and 4. Finds that phonological awareness, vocabulary, and…

Studies use of cohesion in written stories of normally developing and language-learning disabled elementary children using Cohesive Harmony Analysis. Finds the proportion of words in chains (cohesive density) and chain interaction (cohesive harmony) was consistent across the elementary years. States that children with language-learning…