Hi David,
This may seem like a silly topic for extended conversation, but it keeps
raising questions for me. Are you suggesting from the below that
the utility of the beginning and endings of words for word recognition
is
part of the
"logic-like algorithm of sequential phonemic decoding"
that is "under executive control?"
It would seem otherwise to me -- it's more like "wired" into English
language learning
I guess the question that persists for me in this exchange is whether
some folks think that phonemic processes are not at issue at all (which
seems silly) or that they are in play in a way that doesn't matter/ it's
all "whole" language all the time, as if we were wired for literacy.
Eugene, does your history with dyslexia lead you to that conclusion for
reasons I'm too dense to get or am I overgeneralizing and
overinterpreting some (nonexistent) voice in this exchange?
Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: David H Kirshner
To: xmca@weber.ucsd.edu
Sent: 9/21/2003 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Lteter Oerdr?
John, Don, et al.
I think what is titillating and unsettling about this phenomenon is that
it
lays bare how deceived we are by the sense of executive control we
attribute to the conduct of our lives. We don't really have
introspective
access to the processes that govern our construction of words from
letters.
But we know of a logic-like algorithm of sequential phonemic decoding,
and
we attribute our own competence with word forms to this executively
controlled process. The Lteter Oerdr phenomenon leaves us laughing at
our
own naivete. It is a metaphor for life. We think of ourselves as
controlling and guiding our engagements in the world, but perhaps we are
more like twigs bubbling and dancing down the stream of life.
David
_________________________________
Hi David,
It is a great thing. Just an index of how little of the pattern you
need to recognize an instance. Notice that the letters and the
lengths are also part of the pattern. My bet would be that this is to
some degree learned. We have to read mangled texts all the time. I
would therefore theorize that teachers would be better at this than
members of other professions. (Except, perhaps, professional
secretaries.) :-)
John
>No idea about the research base, Don.
>But it strikes me as so funny, I'm forwarding to select friends.
>Thanks.
>David
>
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>
>"Cunningham,
> Donald James" To:
><xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> <cunningh who-is-at indian cc: (bcc: David
>H Kirshner/dkirsh/LSU)
> a.edu> Subject: Lteter
>Oerdr?
>
>
> 09/17/2003
>10:39
>
>AM
> Please
>respond
> to
>xmca
>
>
>
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>
>
>
>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."
>
>Don Cunningham
>Indiana University
-- 401 St. Charles St. Lafayette, La. 70501Land Line: (337) 269-0150 Cell Phone: (337) 739-6118
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