The reason it works is probably because you still have virtually complete
the "small" words (the grammar) -- the content words don't ARE accessed
through initial and ending sounds.
Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret Riel
To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
Sent: 9/17/2003 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: Lteter Oerdr?
Hi all,
I have seen a number of these passages float past on the web in the
last week. I wondered if there was anything special about the texts. So
I took Gordon's words and transposed them with a aim of making it hard
to read. I noticed that all words with 3 letters or less were unchanged
and these words provide strong context. It was still fairly easy to
read--but not as easy as the texts that were sent.
It seems to be an example for how language experts can use context to
solve simple word puzzles rapidly. If the puzzle is harder, it takes
more work. I was curious what happens if I just deleted every third
word... would we still be able to read a message based on context? The
puzzle is a bit harder but I think that the meaning is still clear.
However I know what it said...
Margaret
I'm vrey itesentred in tihs. Wehethr or not tehre has been smatysteic
rrcaeseh, it ctanlreiy twohrs itinresnteg lghit on the posserces
ilovenvd in "naorml" radineg. I had no dicifltufy in rediang the
pagsase below.
On the ______ hand, when __ am reading ___ own or ____ people's papers
__normal speed, _____ when typed, ___ equally have ____ difficulty in
____ typos or _____ errors. i ____how these ______ are related.
Gordon
Don,
I'm very interested in this. Whether or not there has been systematic
research, it certainly throws interesting light on the processes
involved in "normal" reading. I had no difficulty at all in reading the
passage below. On the other hand, when i am reading my own or other
people's papers at normal speed, particularly when typed, I equally have
little difficulty in spotting typos or spelling errors. i wonder how
these phenomena are related.
Gordon
Has anyone ever come across the actual research on this?
"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer
in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is
that the first and last ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be
a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. This is
bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the
wrod as a wlohe."
--Margaret Riel <margaret.riel@sri.com> Sr. Researcher, Center for Technology in Learning SRI, & Pepperdine University "http://gsep.pepperdine.edu/~mriel/office"
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