Contextual and other syntactically-embedded information has often been used to
decipher messages that are more scrambled than transposition-within-end
letters. Simon Singh's "the code book" provides some fun discussions of
historical developments. Cryptography is a great target for a study of
mediated cognition too. Think secret decoder rings.
bb
On Wednesday 17 September 2003 2:41 pm, Judith Vera Diamondstone promulgated:
> 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."
-- ----------------- bb
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