Similarity between writing systems influences second language reading.

This paper is a research review of how the similarity between two writing systems influences second language learning and reading, yielding several findings. First, similarity of mapping principles from orthography to phonology in L1 and L2 facilitates L2 reading via orthographic, phonological and semantic processing. This can be illustrated by feed-forward and feed-backward activation and is affected by the density of neighbouring codes being activated. Second, similarity of mapping principles between orthography and phonology in L1 and L2 facilitates phonological processing through phonological transfer and phonological skill transfer. Third, similarity in orthographic depth in writing systems facilitates L2 reading via orthographic and phonological transfer. Thus, these findings confirm our hypothesis that the similarity between writing systems facilitates L2 reading. This review gives us a deeper understanding of the difficulties learners face when learning a second language that has a different writing system, and has a strong relevance to and implication for teaching.Bachelor of Art