Secondary task performance was used to evaluate the attentional demands of encoding the first letter in a sequential letter-match task. Unlike earlier studies, comparing secondary task performance between two primary task conditions indicated that letter encoding involves attention. Performance during the intertrial interval varied with subjects'…

Responds to an earlier essay that made claims about the origins of written language as the basis for advocating a particular method of teaching reading, clarifying: the origins of the alphabet, the "flimsy" nature of the alphabetic principle, and the implications of both for teaching reading. After examining the origins of written…

Responds to a critique of an earlier article on alphabetic writing that made claims about the origins of written language as the basis for advocating a particular method of teaching reading, suggesting that the critique actually supports the original article's position, and nothing in the critique justifies its conclusion that children need…

Studied whether kindergartners and first graders spell a sequence of phonemes with the corresponding consonant letter rather than spelling the sequence alphabetically with a consonant letter followed by a vowel. Found that children made letter-name spelling errors, especially when the consonant and vowel formed a complete syllable, showing that…

Explains and anthropomorphizes each letter in the alphabet. Details the reasons why writers write. Notes that all writers live and struggle with this question. (PM)

This paper examines the need for a transcription system that allows the symbolization of nonnormal articulations. The paper then describes transcription systems proposed by clinical phoneticians and speech pathologists, especially PRDS (phonetic representation of disordered speech) symbols and extensions of the International Phonetic Alphabet.…

Describes how geometric and mathematical principles were harnessed in the construction and formulation of perfect letters in 15th-century Europe. Discusses the search for the perfect letter. (ASK)

This paper presents a summary of the decisions made by the members of the Marianas Orthography Committee and contains recommendations and general rules for official and formal adoption into the writing system of the Chamorro language throughout the Mariana Islands. The committee presents the general rules with the hope that they will be followed…

This manual, designed to follow "English Alphabet Book 1," presents an English phonetic reading program for children beginning to learn how to read. It contains an alphabet chart with pictures which symbolize words using the sounds of the respective letters. Other pages are devoted completely to the sounds of the vowels, reinforced with common…

This paper provides a rationale which rejects misinformation, assumptions, and biases as bases for decision making on the use of i.t.a. in teaching reading and writing to primary school children. A discussion is provided which questions the reality of professionalism in teacher-administrator populations as well as the reality of a concern for the…

The setting of this study took place in an inner city. The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of a neurologically integrated approach in teaching 43 at-risk pre-first graders their letter sounds and formations during 45-50 hours of summer school. There were four sequential phases to teaching this alphabetic approach: imagery, auditory,…

This study investigated the role of the amount, content, and implementation of reading instruction provided by 17 kindergarten teachers in eight "Reading First" elementary schools as it related to students' progress (n = 286 students) on early reading assessments of phonological awareness and letter naming-decoding fluency. Children's…

THIS MANUAL PRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR OF THE BASHKIR LANGUAGE, A MEMBER OF THE NORTHWESTERN (KIPCHAK) BRANCH OF THE TURKIC LANGUAGE FAMILY. BASHKIR, WHICH CLOSELY RESEMBLES VOLGA TATAR, IS SPOKEN BY ALMOST ONE MILLION BASHKIRS IN THE BASHKIR SOVIET REPUBLIC. THE BASHKIR LITERARY LANGUAGE, WHICH APPEARED IN THE 1920'S, IS WRITTEN IN THE…

This series of colored, illustrated alphabet cards contains all the letters of the Spanish alphabet with illustrations to show their sounds. On the reverse of each card, or series of related cards, is a short story, along with some activities and games designed to reinforce the sound of the letter. The material is intended to develop language…

In 1821, Sequoyah, a Cherokee Indian, presented to his tribal council a syllabary of the Cherokee language--an invention that enabled a previously illiterate people to read and write in their own language. This document includes a brief essay describing Sequoyah's life and accomplishment and a bibliography of further resources. Sequoyah was born…