The nature of internal representation in the internal lexicon

Abstract

The first two experiments reported were concerned with the fact and growth of visual and acoustic representations of simple words in the Mental Lexicon. Using a Learning paradigm it was established that some form of visual and acoustic representations are formed within three exposures and that these forms of a word are also a basis for lexical organization. Five experiments, employing different techniques, were aimed at testing the psychological reality of the morphemic structure of prefixed words. It was established that the morphemic structure of some of these words is represented; that the identity of some prefixes is represented; and that some non-specific knowledge concerning the relationship between orthographic and prefix structure is also represented. Finally, the spelling errors of 11 year old children were analysed. This analysis revealed that acoustic, visual (more properly graphemic), and morphemic information, as well as some knowledge of phonotactic rules and statistical regularities, are represented in the Internal Lexicon. It is concluded that the contents of the Internal lexicon are both redundant and heterogeneous. The first two experiments reported were concerned with the fact and growth of visual and acoustic representations of simple words in the Mental Lexicon. Using a Learning paradigm it was established that some form of visual and acoustic representations are formed within three exposures and that these forms of a word are also a basis for lexical organization. Five experiments, employing different techniques, were aimed at testing the psychological reality of the morphemic structure of prefixed words. It was established that the morphemic structure of some of these words is represented; that the identity of some prefixes is represented; and that some non-specific knowledge concerning the relationship between orthographic and prefix structure is also represented. Finally, the spelling errors of 11 year old children were analysed. This analysis revealed that acoustic, visual (more properly graphemic), and morphemic information, as well as some knowledge of phonotactic rules and statistical regularities, are represented in the Internal Lexicon. It is concluded that the contents of the Internal lexicon are both redundant and heterogeneous.